North Charleston standoff ends with man in custody

After more than an hour of coaxing by North Charleston police negotiators, a man authorities feared would hurt himself gave up and ended a lengthy standoff.

Officers from the North Charleston Police Department had the Remount Road home surrounded for more than two hours when the man walked out around 3:30 p.m. The scene was at Fairmont Mobile Home Park on Remount Road between Attaway and Blackwell streets.

Police spokesman Spencer Pryor said the potentially suicidal man was taken away by ambulance for a mental health evaluation. No criminal charges were expected.

“After about an hour or so of negotiations, officers were able to convince the subject to exit the residence,” Pryor said. “He was unharmed and transported to Mobile Crisis for treatment.”

During the standoff, residents on nearby Blackwell Street gathered in backyards, commented on SWAT team members’ tactics and hoped that the situation would end quickly and peacefully. The mobile home park was not evacuated, but police officers blocked traffic through the property.

After earlier contact by telephone, a negotiator using a voice amplifier tried to contact the man. The negotiator asked the man to put away any weapons that might be inside.

“I need you to come outside so we can help you,” she said. “Can you give us a sign that everything’s OK?

“I can’t help you unless we do this together.”

Officers with their guns drawn had set up a perimeter around the home. Snipers kneeled on the ground beside neighboring homes.

SWAT team members eventually broke a window in front of the home and yelled inside. The man went through a back door and was handcuffed.