Man arrested after 4-hour standoff

BUCKSPORT – A standoff early Sunday morning that began when a local man threatened police ended peacefully about 41/2 hours later with his surrender.

Joshua Amenkowicz, 32, reportedly threatened a Bucksport police officer with a gun around 2 a.m. after the officer had responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at the man’s Center Street residence.

Amenkowicz then retreated inside his residence and refused to come out. Two of his children, a 10-year-old and a 4-year-old, also were inside during the standoff, according to Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland.

“A [state police] tactical team was called in the early morning hours. They set up a perimeter and had a negotiator make contact with the man,” McCausland said later Sunday. “He surrendered just before 7 a.m. and was taken to the [Hancock] County Jail.”

Bucksport police released only a brief statement Sunday about the incident, but McCausland said it started with a domestic argument between Amenkowicz and his wife.

At some point, the woman left the residence with at least one child, McCausland said, but Amenkowicz stayed behind with two others.

Once they realized he wasn’t going to surrender immediately, Bucksport police called state police for assistance, and about 20 members of their tactical team arrived shortly before 4 a.m., McCausland said.

The standoff continued briefly into the daylight hours, but Amenkowicz eventually emerged from the residence before anyone was injured. McCausland said two guns, a shotgun and a rifle were found inside.

The two young children who were inside during the standoff were released to their mother, according to Bucksport police, who also confirmed that a few neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution.

Amenkowicz remained in the Hancock County Jail on Sunday afternoon.

He has been charged with felony terrorizing and creating a police standoff and likely will make his initial court appearance this week.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

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