(SALISBURY, MD) — A Wicomico County man is in State Police custody this morning after he barricaded himself inside a house overnight, following an armed confrontation with his estranged wife.
The man is identified as Jason Gregory, 43, who since yesterday had been staying at a house owned by his father in the 3600-block of Meadow Bridge Road, Salisbury, Md. He is being charged this morning with two counts each of first degree assault, second degree assault, and reckless endangerment.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police at the Salisbury Barrack were dispatched to a home in the 3200-block of Phillips Road, Salisbury, for the report of a domestic situation. The suspect, identified as Jason Gregory, was not at the home when troopers arrived. Troopers learned from his wife that the two were estranged since yesterday when she had asked him to leave. She said he had returned to their home on Phillips Road late last night driving a tractor. She said he was intoxicated and armed with a long gun. Mrs. Gregory stated her husband broke out a sliding glass door and confronted her and a juvenile female. She said he threatened them with the gun and then threatened suicide, before leaving the home stating he would not be ‘taken alive.’
State Police located Jason Gregory at the Meadow Bridge Road address, about 1.5 miles from the Phillips Road home. Knowing he was armed and due to the threats he made, troopers established a perimeter around the home and called for the Maryland State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element, or STATE Team, to respond.
Troopers attempted to convince Gregory throughout the night to come out. They called his cell phone repeatedly through the night, but he did not answer. STATE Team members began using the loudspeaker on their armored vehicle and at about 5:00 a.m. today, Gregory responded by yelling out of the house. He refused police requests to surrender and continued to say he was not coming out.
At about 6:30 a.m. today, State Team members deployed tear gas into the residence. Gregory came out of the home unarmed and was taken into custody without further incident.
Jason Gregory was transported to the hospital for an examination. Following his release from the hospital, he will be taken to central booking at the Wicomico County Detention Center, where he will have his initial appearance before a court commissioner.
No shots were fired from the residence by Gregory during the overnight incident. No shots were fired by police.
State Police investigators are obtaining a search warrant for the house where Gregory was located and will be conducting a search later this morning. In addition to the gun Gregory was seen carrying, investigators believe there may be additional firearms in the residence.
Assistance during this situation was provided by a number of public safety agencies. They included the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, the Fruitland Police Department, the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department, the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation, and State Police from the Salisbury Barrack, the Criminal Enforcement Division, and the Aviation Command.
The investigation is continuing.
