By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



A police standoff in Gardendale on Tuesday ended without injury to residents or authorities.

Gardendale Police officers and Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 1700 block of Magnolia Street late Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Mike Walker said the police department had received an earlier call from the homeowner’s employer, expressing concern about the man’s well-being.

The resident’s name, a white male, will not be published because Walker said the man may still be receiving hospital evaluation.

Authorities knocked on the door of the residence and the man came to the door with two large knives, Walker said. The man reportedly cursed the officers and threatened to cut them.

Walker said the officers then backed away from the home. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team was also called in.

Attempts to reach the man by phone were reportedly unsuccessful. Walker said the man was home alone at the time.

“We attempted to negotiate with him and that failed,” Walker said. “Not wanting to risk my officers’ lives, we decided to call in the SWAT team.”

Walker said the man also allegedly made menacing gestures at officers from windows in the home and also cut himself in front of officers.

After about four hours of trying to reach a resolution, an entry into the house was made and the man was apprehended without incident.

Walker he was then taken to a hospital for treatment of his physical injuries and for a mental evaluation.

Walker said the man was later charged with menacing, a misdemeanor, for threatening the officers with knives.