According to a news release, Sheriff Solomon released details of an ongoing incident on State Route 119 east of the village of Minster. At approximately 12:30 p.m. Tuesday the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man armed with a handgun threatening suicide. Upon arrival it was learned that a juvenile male was also present in the home. Deputies were able to remove the juvenile to safety and began talking to the male to surrender. The male did not surrender and the Auglaize County Special Response Team was dispatched along with negotiators.
Further information at the scene revealed the possibility of explosive devices in the home. A second Special Response Team was called in from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office along with the bomb squad from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.
Negotiators were able to communicate with the male and after approximately four hours, the 38-year-old male surrendered. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
At 6:30 p.m. Special Response Team members and the Allen County Bomb Squad were still on the scene clearing the house and outbuildings of possible explosives.
Other agencies assisting at the scene were Minster and New Bremen Police, the Minster Area Life Squad and Fire Dept., St. Marys Police, The Ohio State Highway Patrol, The Auglaize County Emergency Management Agency, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.
Solomon is not releasing any other details at this point as it is an active investigation and at the time of this release deputies were still on the scene.