Dover – After nearly a six-hour standoff, 33-year-old Joseph Cornell was arrested in his home, located in the 700 Block of Forest Street in Dover, on Saturday afternoon, January 21st, 2017, according to Dover Police Spokesman Mark Hoffman.
Hoffman said that at approximately 9:33 a.m. when witnesses observed Cornell chasing a female victim and strike her several times during a domestic dispute. Cornell then forced the victim in the home and locked the door, refusing to answer when police arrived on scene, said Hoffman.
Despite numerous efforts, the suspect refused to answer the door and the Dover Police Department activated their Crisis Negotiation and Special Operations Response Teams (CNT/SORT), according to Hoffman.
The female victim and a male witness left the home voluntarily shortly after the teams arrived on scene. Despite several attempts to make contact and coerce Cornell to peacefully surrender for nearly four hours, the Special Operations Response Team deployed gas into the residence but the suspect remained inside, said Hoffman.
The team then made entry into the home despite the suspect having blocked the doorways with furniture and located Cornell in the attic of the home. Cornell was taken into custody without incident at that time and charged with Assault 3rd Degree and Resisting Arrest.