By ALESHA CAPONE
A TENSE five-hour siege in St Albans involving an armed man was peacefully resolved by police last week.
Maribyrnong police Inspector Tony Long was acting as the north-west metro regional duty officer on the evening of Friday 12 July, when the situation began developing.
Insp Long said the incident started in Henry St, after a man allegedly smashed up furniture, windows and the interior of a home.
“The man was throwing various household items around the house and through the windows and had armed himself with a number of knives,” Insp Long wrote on Facebook.
“He was threatening self-harm. Family violence, mental health issues, alcohol and drug abuse all appear to be playing a role in the man’s behaviour.”
Police, including the dog squad units, several Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) units, an ambulance and a fire truck attended the scene.
Insp Long said a CIRT negotiator requested a man leave the premises without his weapons, but the man later rushed out holding a knife – only to be stopped by police officers present.
The man ran back into the house, while his family continued to wait outside.
“Eventually, after many hours the man stops communicating with police and concern grows for his welfare,” Insp Long said.
Police entered the house in an attempt to find the man, who was found lying in a child’s bed and taken into custody without incident.
The man was taken to hospital before he was processed by police.
