Editor’s note: Click here to read our follow-up reporting on the suspect’s identity and felony charge.
DELAWARE — The Delaware Police Department executed a search warrant at 72 Spring Street around 8:30 a.m. Monday morning and took one man into custody without incident.
Chief Adam Moore did not share the man’s name at this time, as this is an ongoing investigation, but said he was about 50 years old.
Moore told Delaware Source that officers recovered “some” guns at the home, but that the incident no longer poses a threat to surrounding residents at this time.
Law enforcement arrived on the property early Monday morning after responding to Smith Hall East on Ohio Wesleyan University’s campus around 1:30 a.m., Moore said. OWU’s public safety offices are located at Smith Hall East.
“We got sent over to Smith Hall East … to talk with a student who had been out and about for a walk,” Moore said. “[The student] was walking in the area of 72 Spring Street when he was approached by a subject from the front of the house.
“The student reported that an individual had firearms, produced a firearm and threatened the student,” Moore said. “The student left, no one was injured, and he then reported that information to [OWU] public safety who got us involved.”
Moore said the student told law enforcement that the subject approached the student as he was walking. According to Moore, the subject asked the student about Halloween, then asked if he knew anyone interested in buying narcotics.
In addition to the one man in custody, Moore said officers briefly detained “other individuals” and are trying to determine exactly what transpired.
Moore said his department did bring in the Delaware Tactical Team to assist in serving the warrant.
“We summoned them just because when you start talking about people threatening other people with firearms … out of an abundance of caution, we want to make sure we have the right equipment, the right people to serve that safely,” Moore added.
Moore added that he did not suspect that the student was under the influence at the time.
“At this point there’s nothing to indicate to us that the student went up on the property or was trying to break into it or was doing any of that type of thing,” Moore said.
Moore said that officials have not filed charges against anyone at this time as the case is still unfolding.
