Such a quiet town too
http://www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_116225801.html
http://www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_116225801.html
ROWLEY — A two-hour standoff on Cedarwood Lane ended peacefully yesterday after a man threatened to kill himself and his wife following a fight.
Neighboring police departments as well as the Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team and hostage negotiators descended on 11 Cedarwood Lane shortly before 3 p.m. yesterday.
Police had received a call from the wife of Jeffrey P. Cohen, 52, of that address that she was scared for her life.
"The subject had been in an argument with his wife and was threatening to kill himself," Rowley Deputy Chief Robert Barker said. "He had a shotgun. A neighbor had taken a gun away from him earlier; he then went to get another gun."
Police closed off Cedarwood Lane and evacuated residents from the dead-end street of one-family homes, setting up a perimeter that stretched onto Haverhill Street (Route 133) to shield surrounding residents from gunfire.
Worried neighbors gathered on Haverhill Street watching the scene unfold.
"I'm trying to think what neighbor it could be," one neighbor said. "You never know with people."
Traffic slowed as vehicles passed Cedarwood Lane, residents calling out to police, asking what was happening.
"Police tried to have a conversation with him and he didn't want to talk and threatened to kill them too," Barker said. "We managed to do some evacuations of the neighborhood and keep the perimeter safe."
SWAT teams set up a command post along the side of Haverhill Street, driving down Cedarwood Lane in a SWAT vehicle holding rifles while other SWAT team members went behind homes on Haverhill Street and into the woods to get to the home.
Cohen at one point was holding a shotgun to himself saying he was going to kill himself and, according to Barker, also pointed the gun at police.
"At one point he did point the gun at the officers," Barker said. "The negotiator got on the phone with him and managed to get him to put down his weapon and come out. At the time he came out he was resisting arrest and was armed."
Barker said no taser was used to subdue Cohen; instead, they did what he called a "hands-on" apprehension of Cohen.
"He was not injured," Barker said.
By the time the first officers arrived at the scene, Cohen's wife had cleared out of the home. She was not injured, Barker said.
Cohen was sent to Anna Jaques Hospital last night for a psychiatric evaluation. Barker said pending the outcome of the examination, bail would be set.
"I'm expecting bail to be high," Barker said. "We will contact the bail commissioner once we have a better view of his status."
Cohen was expected to be arraigned in Newburyport District Court this morning.
Newbury, Georgetown, Ipswich, Newburyport, Groveland, Boxford and Topsfield police responded to the scene.
Cohen was charged with disorderly conduct, four counts of assault, resisting arrest and threat to commit a crime (murder).
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