An Armed Man Barricaded Himself Inside A Shed For 4 Hours Before Surrendering To Police

RUSKIN, FL — Deputies arrested a man who barricaded himself in a Ruskin shed Monday afternoon following a four-hour standoff with law enforcement, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Thirty-five-year-old Sean Porter faces multiple charges that the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has not released yet.

No one was injured in the incident, according to deputies.

Sean Porter, 35, threatened to hurt himself and had argued Monday with a man and a woman, and another person at the Ruskin location. Police said neighbors initially thought at least two people were hostages.

When deputies arrived at about 4:05 p.m.outside the shed, Porter said he would harm others, investigators said.

Nearby residents in the 1900 block of 33rd Street Southeast in Ruskin told 9-1-1 operators that Porter shot a gun once before going into the shed with a man and a woman. After deputies were not able to communicate with Porter, the HCSO SWAT and crisis negotiators showed up. Negotiators worked for about four hours before Porter peacefully left the shed, according to detectives.

Evidence of a gunshot was located in the shed, deputies said.

"The dedication and professionalism displayed by the men and women of HCSO played a key role in keeping everyone safe tonight," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "The mental health training our deputies go through allows them to calmly and skillfully negotiate with individuals with mental health conditions. Thankfully, that training paid off tonight."