19-Hour Standoff With Nassau Veteran Ends Peacefully: Police

MASSAPEQUA PARK, NY — A 19-hour-long standoff with a man that began Sunday night ended peacefully on Monday, Nassau County police said.

According to police, a call came in that a 42-year-old veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars needed medical attention at his home on Walker Street in Massapequa Park. When the officers arrived, police say the man barricaded himself inside his home and refused to come out or speak to police.

Additional officers responded, including hostage negotiators. The negotiators were able to make contact with the man, police said, and he threatened the officers. Police evacuated nearby homes and set up a perimeter to keep people out.

Police say the negotiations continued for 19 hours, both on the phone and over a loudspeaker, after which the man agreed to come out. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

According to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, the man suffered from PTSD and was upset by the recent events in Afghanistan.

"We treated him with the respect he deserves," Ryder said. "We got him to the hospital where he needs to be, and hopefully the treatment he needs to get better. It's a good day when we can save a veteran."