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.
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.
