NEW MILFORD — About a dozen police surrounded an apartment building on Housatonic Avenue Friday afternoon after reports that a man was in the hallway with a rifle threatening to shoot any officers called to help.
At about 3:30 p.m., police set up a a perimeter around the building at 3 Housatonic Ave., evacuated closest vicinity neighbors, and closed off the intersections nearest to the downtown complex.
The gun-wielding suspect ended up heading out the rear of the apartment building toward where officers were positioned, informing them that he was carrying a handgun on his side, said Lt. Larry Ash, department spokesman. After a brief struggle, officers were able to get the man onto the ground and retrieve a BB pistol that from a distance appeared to be an actual handgun, Ash said. A search of the inside premises also turned up a pellet rifle that also was a close facsimile to a true rifle, he said.
One police officer did suffer a minor knee injury in the fray, but no shots were ever fired, Ash said.
The suspect’s identity was not immediately released as he was taken to New Milford Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. Charges against him are pending.
Police said they expect to be providing a full news release in the next few hours.