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Man holds off police in Saginaw house

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

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Terry Camp
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SAGINAW (WJRT) -- (11/03/09)--There were some tense moments in a Saginaw neighborhood Tuesday, as a man with several weapons at his disposal held police at bay for a few hours.

The incident began around 5 a.m. when the man shot a rifle in the home located on Braley near Vermont on the city's southwest side.

"This is usually a quiet neighborhood," said Joe Flores, adding that it wasn't quiet when he woke up and saw what was barreling down his street.

"I was amazed because I hadn't seen the tank before," he said.

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Story: Gunman surrenders to police

The Saginaw Police Department's tank was in position to ram the home just a few houses down from Flores.

Inside, the man who lives there was holding off police after firing a gunshot into the ceiling of the home. At that time, his wife and daughter were inside as well.

The man's wife and his daughter were able to escape, and when police arrived, the man refused to leave.

What concerned police the most was the woman told them her husband had 18 handguns, rifles and shotguns in the house.

A lengthy negotiation process began, and police used a bullhorn to warn the man the house that he could be rammed by the tank.

He came out on the front porch several times, and then would walk back in.

Four hours after it started, police talked with the man on the porch, and during the discussion, officers snuck in the back of the house and made the arrest.

The man's mother-in-law says he had been out of work for quite some time, and his wife has cancer.

It's not known what criminal charges the man will face.