NORTHAMPTON — Police surrounded and closed off the Live 155 building on Pleasant Street Monday morning after a resident allegedly stole keys from a maintenance worker and barricaded himself in his room.
At least seven city police cruisers, two state police cars, several unmarked law enforcement vehicles, two ambulances and a fire truck surrounded the building, beginning shortly before 8 a.m. Armed state police troopers, including one with a battering ram and another with a police dog, could be seen entering the building.
Later in the day, in a statement, Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper said a 49-year-old man took a set of keys from a worker in the building, threw water at that worker and then locked himself in his room with the keys. Police did not identify the man.
“He refused to come out,” Kasper wrote. “Officers arrived on scene and the man became assaultive. He punched and threw items at officers, striking them on their heads and bodies.”
As Northampton officers protected themselves with helmets and shields, Kasper stated, the man continued his assaultive behavior and then barricaded himself in his room.
Kasper said police requested assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations Team because of “escalating safety concerns.”
“Team members arrived and took control of the scene and their negotiators spent hours talking with the subject,” Kasper said. “The man did not respond to negotiators and was ultimately removed from the room and taken into custody. He was transported to Baystate Medical Center for assessment and treatment of minor injuries.”
The man was not arrested, but Kasper said he will face multiple charges: assault and battery, larceny from a person, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon and vandalizing property.
Kasper did not identify any weapon the man might have used.
Police were on scene for four hours. Around a dozen residents of the building stood on the sidewalk behind police tape after the building was closed off, unable to enter their homes.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.