Written by John Kovach Stratford Star
A special response team took a man into custody after a nearly 3-hour standoff on Roosevelt Avenue Thursday afternoon. Police were called to a domestic disturbance at 362 Roosevelt Ave. at 2 p.m. Stratford Police Capt. John Popik said a woman told officers that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, and made reference to him having a rifle, and having acted strangely of late.

Neighbors also told police they believed the man had a rifle. Additional officers were called to the scene and moved neighbors away from the hours. Officers and crisis negotiators attempted to contact the man, Popik said, but he did not respond. The special response team was then summoned. It arrived around 4:20 p.m. in an armored vehicle and a black SUV.

Behind a shield, the special response team entered the house. A woman was removed from the area seconds after the team moved in. Just minutes later, the SRT emerged with the man in custody. He was placed in the back of a cruiser that departed a short time later.

Popik said the special response officers encountered the man, who identity has not been released, in the living room and apprehended him without incident. He was found to have a pellet gun. Popik said the man will be charged “at least with breach of peace and threatening.” Because it is a domestic violence incident, he will be arraigned at state Superior Court in Bridgeport Friday.

One neighbor, who did not wish to be identified, said the man had only lived in the residential neighborhood on a dead end street for six months or less. Several said he had acted in a strange manner.

Around 4:15 p.m. Acting Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said police had not made contact with the man, nor had the seen him or the gun.
Neighbors said a second man intervened in the domestic and was also assaulted. Police did not confirm that information. As the incident unfolded, neighbors strolled outside police tape. Some sat in lawn chairs and shot video of the standoff. Roosevelt Avenue is a no-outlet road just southeast of Honeyspot Road, parallel to McKinley Avenue. The house is located just southeast of its the intersection of Wellington Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue. More information will be posted as updates become available.