Man in Custody After Telford Hostage Incident

A 21-year-old Telford man was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon after holding his wife hostage and firing shots through the wall of his house with a high-powered rifle, police said.

Telford Borough Chief of Police Randy Floyd declined to identify the man, saying only that he was "known" to local police and that the police department would be discussing charges with the Montgomery County District Attorney's office.

"We are investigating to determine what those charges will be," Floyd said.

Floyd said police received a domestic dispute call at 1:37 p.m. Tuesday. The man and his 21-year-old wife were in the house at 42 Indian Valley Lane with the man's mother, whom he permitted the leave the house.

Floyd said police were not sure where the suspect was in the house. He said the mother was able to provide police with information upon her exit.

Police then negotiated with the man to come out.

He was taken into custody without incident by Telford Borough Police.

The North Penn Tactical Team was en route to the scene, but were called off by Telford police.

"We were able to make contact with the suspect via telephone through the radio room, and we were able to convince him to lay his guns down and exit the house," Floyd said.

The suspect's wife was taken to Grand View Hospital for examination. Floyd said he was unsure if the wife was injured in the event.

Floyd said that during the negotiations, the man fired "at least five rounds" with a high powered rifle from inside the house.

Floyd would not say what the caliber or make and model was of the weapon.

At least one bullet passed through the walls of the house and struck the house across the street at 41 Indian Valley Lane.

"Three or four of those rounds were fired when the officers were on the scene," Floyd said. "We're going to continue our investigation to try and locate where the other rounds went."

He said he did not believe the suspect shot directly at the officers.

"The shots did ring out through the neighborhood," he said. "We believe one house was damaged."

County radio reports indicated that the man then wanted to speak with the police on the telephone, who in turn relayed to the man via 9-1-1 dispatchers that they would only speak with him through an open window or door.

Dispatchers then told officers at the scene that the man would be coming out of the front of the house with his arms up.

Moments later, police reported to dispatch that a subject was in custody. A SWAT team was initially called to the scene but then waved off after the man surrendered.

The man's wife was taken to Grand View Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.

County property records indicate that the house was purchased in 2007 by Emilio J. Sciortino.

Earlier story and updates below.

Update 2:48 p.m.: The as-yet-unidentified man has been transported from the scene in the back of a Telford police cruiser (see photo).

Police have advised reporters that they'll be conducting a briefing on the incident shortly.

Initial story below.

A man is in custody after firing what he called "warning shots" as police were stationed outside the Telford house where he was speaking to 9-1-1 operators on his telephone.

Prior to the shots, police were heard on county public safety radio taking positions outside the house and discussing whether the man inside was armed.

"Shots fired, shots fired," said one officer at the scene.

From at least that point onward, the man was talking to county 9-1-1 operators, who relayed to police that the man was armed with a .30-06 rifle and ammunition.

The man expressed a desire to talk to police on the telephone, but police would only agree to talk to the man if he met them at an open door or window.

After several more minutes of talking to dispatchers, the dispatchers told officers at the scene that the man would be coming out of the front of the house with his arms up.

Moments later, police reported to dispatch that a subject was in custody. A SWAT team was initially called to the scene but then waved off after the man apparently surrendered.

The man has not yet been identified. County property records indicate that the house was purchased in 2007 by Emilio J. Sciortino.

A Patch reporter is en route to the scene. We'll have more details shortly.

All information in the initial report was collected from county radio reports.