Standoff with Man Barricaded in Car Ends Peacefully

UPDATED: 12:30 p.m.

The Boston Police SWAT team arrested a 37-year-old man who staged a four-hour standoff at 20 Heldun St. after the suspect rammed a police cruiser.

The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries relating to his arrest, and was charged with assault and battery on a police officer.

Police Superintendent Rafael Ruiz said the man, whose named has not been released, was threatening to take his own life, and that his mother originally called 911 seeking help.

Upon arrival police saw the suspect "dragging" his mother from his vehicle, and the mother was able to get away from the car, said Ruiz. Police were able to block the man's vehicle into a driveway and negotiators tried to get the man to peacefully give himself up.

After four hours the SWAT team rushed the vehicle, said Ruiz, arresting the man, and the suspect was taken to the hospital for minor injuries related to being arrested, said Ruiz.

It is not believed that the suspect had a weapon, but he had used his vehicle as a weapon, said Ruiz. The suspect recently lost his job at the Quincy Medical Center as a registered nurse, said Ruiz, and the suspect was distraught about losing his job. The suspect had also allegedly been drinking earlier in the night, and beer may have been in his car, said Ruiz.

"It is exactly what we work for," said Ruiz. "That is why the negotiators talked to him for so long." 

UPDATED: 10:10 p.m. Residents have been evacuated and are now on an MBTA bus with blankets after sitting out in the cold after they were evacuated from their homes earlier. The suspect is still barricaded in his vehicle on Heldun Street. The SWAT team is still on site. Gardner Street is shut down as are surrounding streets.

At approximately 8:50 p.m. Thursday night, Boston Police identified a male they believe to be suicidal driving his car through yards, before ramming a police car in the area of 20 Heldun Street.

After Boston Police attemped to negotiate him out of the car. Negotiator and SWAT teams were called in. SWAT is setting up a staging area in the parking lot.

The man is reportedly, armed and barricaded in a vehicle.

Gardner Street in West Roxbury is currently shut down. Police are evacutaing residents and have requested an MBTA bus to help with evacuations.

West Roxbury Patch is on the scene and will bring you more information as it becomes available.

Stephen Walsh contributed to this report.