Armed standoff ends in arrest
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VIENNA -- An armed standoff that lasted over two hours at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department occurred Tuesday evening and ended with safety for all involved and a man in custody.
A 911 call was placed at approximately 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after members of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Women's Auxiliary reported that an older white male walked into the building with a handgun, according to Vienna Police Chief Mike Pifer.
All individuals inside the building were safely evacuated at that time and St. Joseph's Ambulance Services, Wood County Sheriff officers, Vienna Police Department officers and the Wood County 911 Mobile Command Center quickly responded to the scene, located at 609 28th St. in Vienna, according to Pifer.
The Vienna Police Department's special response SWAT team was also dispatched to the scene, he said.
Lt. Matthew Board of the Parkersburg Police Department, a trained crisis negotiator, was sent into the building to de-escalate the situation, according to Pifer.
"We are still gathering facts at the moment including trying to find the motive," Pifer said Tuesday evening.
The suspect was detained and has been identified as Gary M. Clark, 71, of Liverpool, W.Va., according to Pifer.
The investigation was ongoing and specific charges were pending. Clark was scheduled to be arraigned at Wood County Magistrate Court on Tuesday night.