MARSTONS MILLS, MASSACHUSETTS — Barnstable Police surrounded a Marstons Mills residence Wednesday evening after a daughter reported that her parents were arguing and that her father was still inside, allegedly armed with a firearm and possibly threatening suicide by cop. The situation ended without injury when officers contacted the man by phone and he surrendered cooperatively.

Shortly before 7 p.m. on Oct. 21, multiple Barnstable squad cars rushed to the address on Old Post Road following a 911 call from the daughter, according to police radio transmissions. The mother and daughter managed to leave the home safely and met officers at a secure nearby location. The caller told police her father remained inside, armed, and that there was a possible suicide-by-cop threat.

Officers noted a slight language barrier at times during the call. A Barnstable officer fluent in Portuguese eventually responded to assist.

A computer check revealed the man held an active License to Carry Firearms and had one firearm registered to him.

A stretch of Old Post Road was shut down as multiple officers—some carrying patrol rifles—surrounded the residence and covered it from all angles.

Minutes into the response, an officer covering one corner of the house radioed that he could see the man inside in the dining room area. Dispatchers obtained a phone number and contacted him directly. Personnel were able to convince the distraught man to come outside and surrender. He was described as cooperative while being placed in handcuffs.

As a precaution, an ambulance and crew from the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills Fire Department evaluated the mother and daughter. The father was transported to Cape Cod Hospital for a mental health evaluation, with police following the ambulance.

At the scene, the Portuguese-speaking patrolman assisted with the investigation. A language translation line was requested to be made available at HQ as one of the victims was possibly looking into obtaining a restraining order. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Because of Massachusetts law governing domestic incidents, police are not yet able to say whether anyone will face criminal charges.

The situation was under control by the time of this report. A police commander thanked officers working nearby road construction details for helping emergency vehicles reach the scene without major delays.

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