A despondent man called police early Tuesday afternoon, asking them to come to his home and kill him, causing a standoff that lasted nearly three hours and prompting closure of a section of a major roadway.
Police Chief Carl Sferrazza declined to identify the man, but a co-worker who received several calls from the man during the course of the standoff identified him as Bill Ezold.
The co-worker, who asked not to be identified, said Ezold has been extremely depressed in recent weeks due to family problems.
Sferrazza said police were called by Ezold to his home at 368 Elm Street around 12:20 p.m. "He was depressed and wanted the cops to kill him," Sferrazza said.
Sgt. Jim Laurino talked to Ezold via telephone for nearly two hours, and he and Sgt. John Carney eventually convinced Ezold to leave his home through the garage.
The suspect had claimed to be in possession of a knife, and was tasered by police when he emerged, Sferrazza said. He was taken into custody at 3:26 p.m.
Ezold was transported to an area hospital for evaluation. Criminal charges will be pending, Sferrazza said.
The section of Elm Street between North Street and Moody Road, which had been closed since the beginning of the standoff, was re-opened at 3:35 p.m.