Standoff in Vandergrift ends peacefully with man's arrest

A Vandergrift man was taken into custody following a standoff at a borough house Friday night.

Officers were dispatched to 331 Chestnut St. shortly before 8 p.m. for a domestic dispute.

“Prior to arrival, Westmoreland County 911 advised us the male was possibly armed with a handgun and a shotgun,” Sgt. Anthony DePanicis said. “We got to the residence. There was a standoff.

“The male was eventually talked out of the house. He was taken into custody and transported to Allegheny Valley Hospital for a mental evaluation.”

DePanicis said no shots were fired but charges are pending.

No injuries were reported.

Early reports indicated a child was in the house. But DePanicis said the woman’s 5-year-old child was playing with other children next door at 329 Chestnut St. and no children were with the man at the time of the incident.

There was a heavy police presence along Chestnut Street and nearby roads as state police and officers from Leechburg and Allegheny Township responded to the scene.

“Initially it was reported that he may be at-large outside,” DePanicis said. “We wanted to cover the perimeter and area, and being that firearms were mentioned we wanted to make sure everyone was safe in the community.”

Resident Forrest Hall has lived across the street from the house in question for about 25 years.

He said neighbors called him Friday about the police along the street. When he went outside he saw an officer with a shotgun standing by his porch.

“Normally it’s pretty quiet on this part of the street,” he said. “That was different.”