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Standoff Ends After Police Ask For Beer

Suspect Subdued By Police

UPDATED: 5:15 p.m. EDT August 9, 2001

A Washington County man was taken into custody Thursday morning after a standoff with police, WTAE reported.

The standoff ended after police asked for a drink of the suspect's beer.

North Franklin Township police were called to a Cleveland Road home due to a reported domestic dispute incident at 3 a.m.

Clemens

A man, Thomas Clemens (pictured, left), his wife, their two infant daughters and a friend of Clemens' wife were in the home. The man was reportedly carrying a rifle in one hand, a shotgun in the other and still more weapons in his pockets and waistband, WTAE-TV's Bob Mayo reports.

Mayo reports that when North Franklin police arrived, Clemens was waiting with an AK-47assault rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a 40-caliber glock pistol and a .357 Magnum handgun.

"I was already onto the walkway and he said, 'Don't come on the property or I'll shoot anybody who comes on the property, because you're trespassers,'" North Franklin officer William Forgie said.

Another officer said that he heard Clemens put a live round into the chamber of his assault rifle.

The officers finally subdued Clemens after asking him for a drink of his beer, police said.

"I asked him if I could have a drink of his beer," Sgt. Richard Horner said. "When he handed the beer to me, we subdued him, restrained him from getting to his weapons and arrested him."

The charges against Clemens include aggravated assault, terroristic threats and endangering the welfare of children.

His wife, kids and his wife's friend were not hurt.

Clemens is being held on $50,000 straight bond at the Washington County jail.

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