Police: Man Under Mental Evaluation After Firing At Officers
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- SWAT teams took over a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood early Thursday morning after police say a man fired shots at uniformed officers.
Police have detained the man identified as 39-year old John Loden. Officers said due to the violent way he reacted, he was Baker Acted and taken to the Broward Health Medical Center.
After hearing the chaos next door just after midnight Thursday neighbor Jason Stuckey said he called police.
"You could hear glass shattering, people screaming and it sounded like they were breaking through my wall with a sledge hammer," said Stuckey.
The standoff between Loden and Fort Lauderdale police happened just after midnight at an apartment at 3019 Harbor Drive.
Officers responded to reports of loud noises coming from a second floor unit.
When they knocked on the apartment door, officers said, Loden responded and the officers identified themselves. Police said Loden then fired a shot at officers.
"There were two officers on either side of the door and all of a sudden it sounded like a gunshot and you could see the door bow out it looked like the door was coming through," said Stuckey. "I took off down the hallway and was able to get into an apt down there and my wife was home at the time was in our bedroom lying on the floor."
WATCH GABY FLEISCHMAN'S REPORT
As SWAT teams arrived on the scene, police said two more shots were fired.
Authorities said Loden eventually surrendered and was taken in to custody.
During the standoff, people in the immediate area where evacuated as a precaution. Neighbors spoke to CBS4's Gaby Fleischman about their experience.
"It was crazy for us to see that kind of atmosphere. We're not used to that. We were a little bit worried of any crossfire or something like that so we were staying low and watching through the window," said resident Michael Hart.
A portion of A1A was shut down for some time but has reopened.
Police confirmed no one else was in the apartment at the time and no officers or bystanders were injured in the standoff.
A check of records showed Loden has a criminal history. Some of his previous charges include robbery and drug possession.
The property manager of the Harbour View apartment said Loden was just visiting and believes he never fired a gun. The woman living in the apartment also said there's no evidence in the apartment that shots were ever fired.
It is unknown if Loden discarded or concealed the firearm prior to the SWAT officers making contact.
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