Man In Custody Following Hours-Long Allentown Standoff
ALLLENTOWN (KDKA) - A man is in custody after an early morning standoff in Pittsburgh's Allentown neighborhood.
According to police the incident started around 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of Allen and Industry streets.
Police say a man with a gun was holed up in a camping trailer with two dogs.
"My officers came up here a little after 2 o'clock and searched the area and were able to locate the suspect inside this trailer in the 200 block of Allen Street, made contact with him. He refused to come out of the trailer and at that point, I activated the tactical team," Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Eric Baker said.
A SWAT team tried negotiating with Snatchko, who police say remained inside the trailer with a firearm. His roommate, who was also inside the camper, talked to police.
"He came out and spoke with us and informed us that the male was in fact still in there and was still armed," Sgt. Baker said.
Police used tear gas and a number of flash bangs throughout the standoff. Around 7 a.m., the suspect decided to surrender.
"After a lot of gas deployment. He decided to pick up a phone that we had placed inside of the trailer and said he wanted to give up. So, he did that. He came out with his hands up and we put him into custody," Pittsburgh Police Spokeswoman Sonya Toler said.
The suspect has since been identified as William Snatchko.
There are no reported injuries, but Snatchko was being taken to the hospital for exposure to tear gas.
NOW: SWAT situation in Allentown had ended. Suspect is in custody, heading to hospital for exposure to tear gas. No injuries reported. #KDKA pic.twitter.com/agTiPhhlWb
— Lisa Washington (@LisaWashing) March 20, 2017
It all started after Snatchko reportedly got into an argument with his wife in Carnegie. Police say two shots were fired.
"Apparently, he fired one shot perhaps accidentally, but then fired a second shot purposely at his wife, did not strike anyone, left the residence and came here," Toler said.
Toler says the couple is reportedly getting a divorce.
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