Police Arrest Avon Man from Lovely Street Standoff [Update, Dec. 31, 6:32 p.m..]

Update, Dec. 31, 6:32 p.m.

Avon police arrested the armed man Monday who barricaded himself in his Lovely Street home for nearly 13 hours, forcing the evacuation of several neighborhood homes Sunday during the overnight standoff. 

Brian Benjamin, 53, was brought to the Avon Police Department after being released from medical care around 1 p.m.

Police booked him without incident soon after and charged him with third-degree assault, first-degree criminal mischief, criminal use of FM or an electronic, interfering with an officer and second-degree threatening.

Police said Benjamin made threats of violent against himself and officers during the standoff. They were responding to a dispute between roommates at his 373 Lovely St. home. Benjamin's female roommate called 911 around 2 p.m. Sunday and made it out of the house safely, police said.

After lengthy communication with negotiators, Benjamin exited his home around 3 a.m. Monday.

He was not cooperating, so police subdued him with "less lethal munitions," according to a press release from the department. Benjamin sustained some "superficial injuries" and was brought to an area hospital for treatment, the release stated.

Benjamin was held on a $250,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 2.

Original Story

A standoff between police and a man who barricaded himself in his home at 373 Lovely St. Sunday was resolved around 3 a.m. Monday, police said.

Police identified the man as Brian Benjamin, 53, in a press release and said he left the house around 3 a.m. after negotiators asked him to do so. The overnight standoff lasted nearly 13 hours.

Benjamin was not cooperative and had to be subdued by police with "less lethal munitions," police said in the release. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation and to be treated for "superficial injuries," police said.

"Charges are pending Mr. Benjamin's release from medical care," the press release from the department stated.

It is unclear at this time what the charges will be.

Police responded to a roommate dispute at 373 Lovely St. Sunday afternoon after a woman dialed 911 to report an incident with Benjamin. The woman fled the home, where she lives with Benjamin, though police do not believe the woman was in immediate danger when she left. Police did not release the specifics of the 911 call.

Benjamin confronted officers when they arrived at his home and he was armed, according to police. He made "threats of violence against himself and the police before barricading himself back in his residence," police said in the press release.

It is not believed any shots were fired, according to police.

Negotiators communicated with Benjamin until he exited the home.

Neighbors were evacuated, though it's unclear at this time how many. Accomodations were provided for them at hotels, Capt. Jeffrey Blatter said Monday morning. They have since been allowed to return to their homes, he said.

Police from Farmington, Simsbury, a regional SWAT team and the North Central Municipal Emergency Services Team assisted Avon police. Fire police from the Avon Volunteer Fire Department were also on scene.

A portion of Lovely Street was closed for the duration of the incident and reopened at around 3 a.m.

Editor's Note: This article was last updated at 6:32 p.m. on Dec. 31.