By Mikaela Porter, Hartford Courant
WATERTOWN – A local man who police said caused a natural gas leak in his home in an apparent suicide attempt Saturday night was taken into custody after a standoff with officers.
Police said they were called to 96 Oak Drive about 8:20 pm. Saturday.
Christopher Demirs, 48, confronted police as they arrived, then ran back into the house, police said.
Because of the strong odor of natural gas, nearby houses were evacuated and nearby roads were closed.
Watertown police Sgt. Michael Markiewicz was able to get close enough to the house to shut the gas off.
Police Demirs had a box cutter and threatened to hurt himself.
After several hours of negotiation, Waterbury’s SWAT team forced its way into the house after seeing Demirs try to harm himself.
He was taken to an area hospital for evaluation.
Demirs was later charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace and was held on $75,000 bail.