DOVER, Del. - The Dover Police Department arrested a 61-year-old man, ending a barricade situation on Stoney Drive Wednesday afternoon.
Police say he was taken to an area hospital for self-inflicted wounds, for which he is currently being treated.
There was a strong police presence on Stoney Drive near Route 8 on Feb. 18 at about 4 p.m. The Dover Police Department asked drivers and neighbors to avoid the area and use an alternate route while the situation was resolved.
On Thursday, police released further details on the incident. The Dover Police Department says they were called to a home on Stoney Drive just after 3:30 p.m. on reports of a domestic-related incident in which a gun had been fired.
Upon arrival, a victim told police she had gotten into an argument with Eric Dryden, 61, when Dryden allegedly assaulted her and opened fire at her, striking a wall. The victim was able to escape and contact authorities.
Police say they then tried to convince Dryden to exit the home but he refused, prompting the barricade situation. According to authorities, Dryden exited the home holding a gun multiple times but quickly re-entered and refused to surrender.
Authorities then attempted to disable the home's electricity when Dryden fired his gun from inside, nearly striking a City of Dover electric employee and assisting officers, according to Dover PD.
Dryden eventually suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound before surrendering, according to police. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he currently remains. Once medically cleared, he will be arraigned on the following charges:
-Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
-Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (2 counts)
-Reckless Endangering (4 counts)
-Aggravated Menacing
-Resisting Arrest
-Offensive Touching
(Dover Police Department)
"We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners at the Capital School District for opening Dover High School as a safe location for residents displaced during this incident," Dover Police said in a statement on Thursday. "We also thank the Delaware State Police for their continued support and collaboration, as well as the Delaware Department of Transportation for assisting with traffic control. Our gratitude extends to Kent County Paramedics and Ambulnz for the medical care they provided."
"Finally, we offer a heartfelt thank you to the residents who were displaced," authorities continued. "Your patience and cooperation allowed us to carry out our responsibilities safely and effectively while ensuring others remained out of harm’s way."
This article was originally published on Wednesday, Feb. 18. It has been updated to included the Dover Police Department's full update.
