Man with sword in custody after Strawberry Mansion standoff

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - A man who allegedly threatened police with a sword is in custody following a four-hour standoff in Strawberry Mansion.

Police say a man barricaded himself inside the 2400 block on North Myrtlewood Street in North Philadelphia around 8 p.m. on Monday.

SWAT officers responded to the home, where the man was allegedly standing on a porch, swinging a large sword at police.

When police tased the man, he reportedly ripped the taser prongs out of his chest and ran inside the house.

"He was threatening police the entire time," said Chief Inspector Scott Small. "At one point, with a lighter in his hand, he said he was going to turn on the gas and set the house on fire, which would cause an explosion, so we had to call PGW to have the gas cut off and evacuate nearby properties."

The man also threw a butcher knife out of the window, broken pieces of furniture and a flaming pillow, according to police.

The SWAT team used tear gas to get the man outside.

Police say the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was transported to a mental health crisis center.