Hopwood standoff ends with man taken into custody
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Shawn Workman, 38, of Hopwood is taken in to custody by state police following a standoff where Workman barricaded himself inside his Bryson Boulevard apartment in Hopwood Thursday afternoon. No injuries were reported.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
A member of the Pennsylvannia Specialized Emergency Response Team (SERT) takes position during a standoff incident that occurred in Hopwood Thursday afternoon.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
State police take shelter behind a stone wall during a standoff incident that occurred in Hopwood Thursday afternoon.
State police are at the scene of a standoff at a small apartment complex in Hopwood.
A 2 1/2-hour standoff at a Hopwood apartment ended at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday when a man was taken into custody.
A state trooper was attempting to serve a warrant for a violation of a protection from abuse order on Shawn Workman, 38, of Hopwood when police said he threatened suicide and told officers he had a weapon.
A Special Emergency Response Team and state police surrounded the small apartment complex on Bryson Boulevard near Route 40 while negotiators spoke with Workman.
Trooper Stefani Lucas said Workman was barricaded in the apartment, but surrendered peacefully after negotiations.
“He did indicate that he had weapons. He did not necessarily indicate that he intended to use them on us,” she said.
No one was inside with Workman during the standoff, she said. She said the alleged PFA violation occurred Wednesday.
Lucas said mental health personnel were also contacted.
The area surrounding the apartments was evacuated, including the Dollar General across the street. A portion of Route 40 was closed for about an hour.
Workman’s friend, Travis Zinn, said he was at the Dollar General to shop when he noticed state police lying in the grass with weapons trained on the residence. He later discovered his friend was barricaded inside.
“I was like, ‘Please just come outside, man,'” he said.
Zinn said Workman was going through a difficult time after his brother died suddenly Tuesday.
Neighbors said the four-building complex is an area of frequent police activity, with state police responding to calls about two or three times per week.
Workman is facing misdemeanor charges of possession of an offensive weapon, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned Thursday afternoon and lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
Workman had not faced criminal charges in Pennsylvania since 1999 when he was charged in two drug cases, according to court documents.