Lieutenant Discusses Further Details of Standoff

Lieutenant David Buckley spoke to the attendees and officials at of the Perkiomen Township Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday night, regarding .
Buckley said the man’s family was concerned he would harm himself. He had a history of mental illness and had threatened to hurt himself (in the past), Buckley said.

According to a report, Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Walter I. Hofman has identified the 47-year-old man as Joseph Luton.

Troopers were dispatched to check on his welfare, and were going to serve an involuntary commitment order, he said.

For the safety of the public and the troopers, authorities shut down the portion of Route 29 that surrounds the house, and some homes were evacuated. To further ensure the responders’ safety, Buckley said they waited for the armored vehicle to arrive before continuing to make progress.

The road was closed longer than if authorities hadn’t waited, but it may have saved lives, he said, noting, “in hindsight, we pulled 30-odd loaded weapons out of the house.”

At the end of the day, it is tragic for the family involved, but thankfully no other lives were taken or harmed, Buckley said.

Supervisor Richard Kratz thanked Buckley for the job he and the troopers did Tuesday. Others echoed the sentiment.