Police stand-off with man enters its THIRD day as police 41-year-old is ‘believed to be armed’
Police stand-off with man, who has his son, eight, inside a house in Coventry enters its THIRD day as police say 41-year-old is ‘believed to be armed’
Stand-off continues between armed police and a man with his eight-year-old sonThe 41-year-old is ‘believed to be armed’, the police have said The incident began after a concern for welfare check by West Midlands Police
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A stand-off between police and a man who is ‘believed to be armed’ and has his eight-year-old son inside a Coventry house has entered its third day today.
The incident, involving specially trained officers in the Earlsdon area of the city, began after a concern for welfare check by West Midlands Police at the three-storey Victorian property at 12.20am on Sunday.
Police, who were pictured inside the cordon throughout Monday, have said the 41-year-old man inside the property is ‘believed to be armed’.
The force said in a statement issued around midnight on Tuesday: ‘Our priority is the safety of those involved which includes residents who live within the cordon’s perimeter.’
Photos of police outside the property have been posted on two Facebook accounts linked to the suspect. One showed six officers aiming guns at his front door from behind the protection of riot shields.
Earlsdon Primary School was closed yesterday and will remain so today due to the incident, but a library near the scene on Earlsdon Avenue North – where houses are typically worth £240,000 – opened as a ‘help centre’ for residents.
Earlsdon Ave North in Coventry today where armed police are heading into day three of an armed stand off with a man who has barricaded himself and his son inside a property since the early hours of Sunday morning
Earlsdon Ave North in Coventry where armed police are heading into day three of an armed stand off
Firing line: This photo was shared online by the 41-year-old suspect engaged in an armed standoff with police at a home in Coventry which has been ongoing since Saturday night
A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: ‘The house is surrounded by armed police so there’s nowhere for him to go.
‘The negotiators have tried to nudge him gently but it doesn’t sound like much progress has been made.
‘He has always seemed OK with me but he does have mental health issues. There are two boys who come and visit him – I don’t think they live there.
‘I was told he allowed one of them to leave on Saturday but the other boy is still inside. I’ve been told that he has been posting things on social media during the standoff.’
Another neighbour posted a video of the incident in Earlsdon, Coventry, with a police officer shouting: ‘I have got officers with me, it is nothing to be worried about, they are here to keep everybody safe.
‘Can you hear me at all? Can you say something so that I know that you’re OK?’
The negotiator offered the man and his son food – and a fish finger sandwich on white bread was requested.
Armed police officers outside a property in Earlsdon Avenue North, Coventry yesterday
Armed police officers outside a property in Earlsdon Avenue North, Coventry yesterday
Chief Superintendent Pete Henrick, Coventry Police Commander, said: ‘We understand that this situation is deeply worrying for some local residents and we want to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to bring it to a safe conclusion.
‘I ask that people bear with us as specialist officers remain at the scene.’
Police had earlier said the man was refusing to leave the home and the child is thought to be inside.
Ambulance incident response units have were seen on standby and a large area spanning multiple streets was cordoned off by police.
Residents were told to stay in their homes by officers.
Speaking to CoventryLive yesterday, one resident said: ‘I had not noticed anything until around noon when I opened our blinds and saw about four or five police cars and a van.
‘At that time there was only one armed officer, but over the course of the next three or four hours the presence of armed police slowly increased to the point that now there’s between 10 and 20 armed officers here.’
Pictured: Police at a house on Earlsdon Avenue in Coventry on Sunday 9th January
After the man refused to come out of the house following the welfare check, specialist officers including armed police were dispatched and ambulance crews have also been seen in the area. Pictured: Part of the large police cordon in Earlsdon, Coventry, January 9
Another wrote that they were locked in their house and another person said police had not let them leave their home.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police had said: ‘We went to conduct a safe and well check on a man and a child at an address in Earlsdon Avenue North, Coventry, just before 12.20am this morning (January 9).
‘A man inside the property is refusing to come out. Specialist resources have been called and officers remain at the scene this afternoon.
‘The road is sealed off while officers deal with the situation.’
