KIRTLAND, Ohio — No one was hurt following a suspected arson fire and subsequent standoff at a property in Kirtland Tuesday.
Officials first received a report of a blaze at a barn on the 10800 block of Tibbetts Road just before 11:45 a.m., but once firefighters arrived at the driveway, an 89-year-old man blocked them from getting to the building with his vehicle. As police approached, the suspect pulled out a gun while threatening to harm himself, and authorities later learned other adults as well as small children were inside the main residence.
As first responders from other area departments arrived on scene, crews were able to secure the home and make sure the additional adults and kids were safe. After roughly 45 minutes of negotiations, law enforcement obtained the weapon and took the elderly man into custody, while firefighters were able to extinguish the flames at the barn.
No injuries have been reported, although it is unknown if any animals were inside the barn when it caught fire. The suspect was taken to UH Lake West Medical Center for a mental health evaluation and will subsequently face charges for alleged arson.