NEWARK, DE — What began as a neighborhood dispute over snow removal and parking escalated into an alleged home invasion, violent assault, and hours-long police standoff that ended with a SWAT arrest in the Concord Trace Townhouses community, authorities said.
According to the New Castle County Division of Police, patrol officers responded Wednesday, January 28, to the 200 block of White Plains Court for a reported assault. A 57-year-old man told officers that a suspect forced entry into his residence and assaulted both him and a 49-year-old male acquaintance.
Police identified the suspect as 33-year-old Ras Loyd of Bear, Delaware. Investigators allege Loyd assaulted both victims during the incident, knocking one unconscious and threatening them with a firearm. Authorities said the confrontation stemmed from a dispute involving snow shoveling and an assigned parking space. Both victims were transported to a local hospital, treated, and later released.
Officers attempted to locate Loyd following the incident but were initially unsuccessful.
On Thursday, January 29, police escalated the response as the Division’s Crisis Management Group and Unmanned Aircraft System team responded to Loyd’s residence to execute outstanding arrest warrants. Authorities said all other occupants exited the home safely, but Loyd allegedly refused to surrender.
Crisis negotiators and drone teams attempted repeated contact without success, prompting the deployment of SWAT personnel. Due to the connected townhome layout and ongoing safety concerns, neighboring residences were evacuated and residents were transported by police to the Bear Library for temporary shelter.
Additional resources were brought in, including the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team, the Wilmington Police Drone Team, the New Castle County Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, Emergency Management officials, Delmarva Power, and Delaware Animal Services.
After a prolonged standoff, SWAT officers entered the residence but initially did not locate Loyd. Police said it was later determined that he had breached an adjoining vacant townhome through attic drywall. Officers entered the adjacent unit, where K9 Nuke located Loyd hiding in a second-floor bedroom. Authorities said Loyd resisted arrest but was ultimately taken into custody. Tactical EMS personnel provided medical care at the scene before he was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Loyd was originally charged with first-degree assault, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, first-degree burglary, and aggravated menacing. Following the standoff, additional charges were filed, including second-degree burglary, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief over $1,000.
After arraignment in Justice of the Peace Court 11, Loyd was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $106,000 cash bail.
All charges are allegations. Loyd is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.