A seven-hour SWAT standoff at a Forsyth County townhouse ended when officers and police dogs entered the home, authorities confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Authorities went inside the home around 4 p.m. and took 42-year-old Blake Prizio into custody, according to the Forsyth County sheriff’s office. A flash bang was reportedly heard around that time, Channel 2 Action News reported.
“We introduced two robots. We introduced ... tear gas into the house, but everything we tried was not working,” Sheriff Ron Freeman said during a news conference after the successful arrest of the suspect.
The man was taken to WellStar North Fulton Hospital after he was bitten by a police dog during the raid. He was released later Tuesday and booked into the Forsyth County jail on charges of aggravated assault with a gun and reckless conduct.
Channel 2 reported that no one else was seriously injured during the standoff or entry into the home.
Authorities were called to the Whittington Townhomes off McGinnis Ferry Road about 9 a.m. when Prizio called 911 and claimed he was being held hostage inside one of the units on Prestwyck Court, Channel 2 reported.
According to Freeman, the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Freeman also said Prizio, who was not familiar to authorities, fired shots on three occasions.
Credit: undefined
Credit: undefined
Earlier, the sheriff’s office contacted the county school district and bus drivers were told to use alternate routes to ensure children were out of harm’s way.
