WALLINGFORD, Conn. — Three people locked themselves in a bathroom Friday night in Wallingford to escape a man threatening to harm himself with a gun, the police department reported early Saturday evening. The incident continued well into Saturday morning.
At approximately 9:53 p.m. on Friday, Wallingford police made their way to a home on Perkins Drive for reports of a man with a firearm; the caller said there were three additional people in the home at the time, including two women and another man, police said.
According to a release from the police department, the other three occupants retreated to the master bathroom on the second floor of the home and locked themselves in. Wallingford police were able to help the victims exit the home through a second-story window; they were escorted to safety, while the man remained in the home alone and armed.
The Cheshire-Wallingford Emergency Response Team, Wallingford Fire Department, Wallingford Police Detectives and crisis negotiators all responded to the scene, police said, adding that officers tried communicating with the man for hours.
"Wallingford received assistance from the South Central Regional SWAT Team," the release said. "We utilized an armored vehicle, a drone and a tactical surveillance robot to help resolve the situation peacefully."
Artur Ziembicki, 50, who lived at the home, surrendered peacefully to authorities at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Police said Ziembicki was arrested and charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday at 9 a.m. in Meriden.
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