July 21, 2005

Blooming Grove

Cops say man in garage  had hatchet, firebombs

A Blooming Grove man is facing multiple felony charges after a standoff with police yesterday.      Blooming Grove police said they got a 911 call about 5:40 p.m. saying a possibly suicidal man had barricaded himself in his home at 25 Houston Ave.      Blooming Grove police Detective Brett Weeden said that when officers arrived, they found James F. Southwick, 58, in his garage wielding a hatchet.      A state police Mobile Response Team was called in to assist, as officers attempted to get Southwick to surrender.      Weeden said that during negotiations Southwick produced a Molotov cocktail – an improvised explosive device – and threatened to "blow up the whole neighborhood."      At about 8:30 p.m., Southwick attempted to flee out the rear door of the garage and was apprehended, Weeden said. Officers used pepper spray to subdue Southwick, but neither he nor any of the officers involved were injured, Weeden said.      Southwick was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal possession of a weapon and making terroristic threats, felonies. He was also charged with misdemeanor weapons possession, reckless endangerment and menacing.      Southwick was being held last night, pending arraignment.

Dave Richardson

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