Police: Man Barricaded in Avon House Until 3 a.m. Monday [Update, 7:43 a.m..]

Update, Dec. 31, 7:43 a.m.

The standoff ended at 3 a.m. and the man barricaded was identified as Brian Benjamin, 54.

For further details see the latest story we have posted by clicking on the link provided.

Update, Dec. 30, 11:28 p.m.

A man is still barricaded in his Lovely Street home and people living nearby remain evacuated from their houses, police said just before 11:30 p.m.

Lovely Street is still closed between Hollister Drive and Old Wheeler Lane.

Police have not released new information at this time, but Patch will provide updates as they become available.

Update, Dec. 30, 10:09 p.m.

The man is still barricaded in his home, police said.

Update, Dec. 30, 9:50 p.m.

As of 9:50 p.m., it is unclear how long the portion of Lovely Street between Old Wheeler Lane and Hollister Drive will remain closed, according to police.

Part of the road has been closed since Sunday afternoon near a Lovely Street home where an armed occupant barricaded himself inside.

As of 9:50 p.m. people living nearby who were evacuated still have not been permitted to return to their homes, according to police.

Update, Dec. 30, 6:11 p.m.

In a press briefing with Avon Police Chief Mark Rinaldo and Lt. Kelly Walsh, police said that a man in his 50s is still barricaded in a Lovely Street home and he is the only occupant.

A regional negotiator is now speaking with the man, Rinaldo said.

Police arrived on scene earlier this afternoon after a woman dialed 911 around 2 p.m. to report an incident with the man, who is her roommate. The woman fled the home, though police do not believe the woman was in immediate danger when she left. Police did not release the specifics of the 911 call.

Walsh declined to identify the man or the woman.

As of about 6 p.m., the man had not made any demands or threats to himself, police said.

There is no verification at this time as to what kind of weapon he has in his posession or how many. It is not believed any shots were fired, according to police.

Police from Avon, Farmington, Simsbury and a regional SWAT team are on scene and Walsh said it is still an active scene. It is not clear at this time how much longer the situation will persist.

The people living nearby who were evacuated have not been allowed to return to their homes at this time, police told reporters at the press conference. Police have not confirmed at this time how many were evacuated.

Lovely Street is now closed between Hollister Drive and Old Wheeler Lane, not far from Roaring Brook School, which is out of session due to the holiday break.

Patch will provide more information as it becomes available.

Update, Dec. 30, 5:59 p.m.

Police will be holding a press conference shortly, so we should have an update for you soon.

Original Story

Lovely Street has been closed between Country Club Road and Old Wheeler Lane after a man reportedly barricaded himself inside 373 Lovely Street.

According to Lt. Kelly Walsh of the Avon Police Department there is only one person  - a male - in the house. He has at least one weapon, Walsh said. She also said that Avon Dispatch was speaking with the man and trying to communicate and that a regional negotiator was on the way to the scene at 3:30 p.m.

Officers from Avon, Farmington and Simsbury along with members of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department and AMR ambulance services were also on scene. Walsh said she did not have any additional information at that time. 

Avon Police also said nearby homes are being evacuated. The suspect is believed to have a gun, police told the Hartford Courant, and was threatening harm.

Patch will update the story as new information becomes available.