PISCATAWAY, N.J. (WPIX)—
More details and the name of the Piscataway cop who barricaded himself inside his home in a 10-hour standoff with police were released Monday.Detective Sgt. David L. Powell was killed by responding officers during the standoff.
The standoff began at 3:15 p.m. Sunday when the Powell barricaded himself inside his Parkside Avenue home, according to Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler.
Powell apparently violated a restraining order and when officers asked him to report to headquarters. Powell refused and claimed he had hostages inside his home.
Four shots were fired at about 4p.m. as responding officers attempted persuade Powell to exit his home. It is unclear if the gunfire came from within the home or from officers at the scene, but reports say they came from inside the house.
"I heard gunshots, which I thought were firecrackers," one neighbor told PIX 11 News. "I opened my door [...] and I noticed there were cops all over the place with their rifles drawn and they were hiding behind a house."
Powell eventually stepped onto his porch and fired a submachine gun at officers. Cops returned fire and killed Powell.
Another neighbor, who did not want to be identified, told PIX 11 News this is not the first time the Piscataway officer has "flipped out" and is not surprised about Sunday's events.
The neighbor also described Powell as a 21-year veteran of the Piscataway police force who was coping from recent divorce from his second wife and other problems.
Surrounding streets in the residential neighborhood were closed to traffic and several neighbors were evacuated from their homes.
Officers from the Piscataway Police Department and Middlesex County SWAT Team responded to the scene.
Monday morning officers were still guarding the Parkside Avenue home, and investigators were inside gathering evidence.
