9+ hour standoff ends peacefully, suspect at hospital
SALISBURY, Md. – Following more than 9 hours of negotiating, a standoff ended peacefully Tuesday afternoon.
It all started just after 3:30 in the morning. A Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol in the southside of Salisbury saw a car make several traffic violations. When deputies approached the car, they found that the vehicle had been in an accident with no driver inside. The car was towed away.
As deputies continued their investigation they were led to a home in the 100 block of Onley Road in the Cedar Crossing Apartments. The Sheriff’s Office says they found evidence of a crime that led deputies to a victim. A woman was found to have been assaulted and was later treated at a local hospital. Further investigation would lead deputies to identify a man who had multiple warrants out for his arrest in Worcester County.
At the home, that man then barricaded himself inside after sheriff’s deputies asked him to come outside. Law enforcement spoke to the suspect on a loudspeaker after he did not answer multiple phone calls. Along with the Sheriff’s Office, the Salisbury Police Department, Maryland State Police, and Salisbury University Police were also on the scene.
During the barricade, residents filled the street watching to see what would happen. A resident, who’s lived in the neighborhood her whole life says the area is usually pretty safe. “I can still walk my streets normally, carefully. Everybody speaks to me. “Hey” This is a good community, I don’t feel unsafe at all. I love my community,” said a witness in the area.
To get the matter under control, tear gas was used. After that was deployed, the family’s dog ran out of the home and was turned over to animal control.
The Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team and Salisbury Police Department’s Tactical Unit went inside the home and was able to finally detain the suspect. Before being taken into custody, the suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Matthew William Gruber.
Gruber is expected to face charges after he finishes receiving medical treatment.
