Man barricaded inside motorhome in Lumberton Walmart parking lot removed safely: police
LUMBERTON, N.J. - Police say a dispute in the Walmart parking lot on Route 38 escalated into a robbery and led to a nearly 17-hour standoff with a man barricaded inside an RV, according to the Lumberton Township Police Department. Officers say the suspect, identified as Blake Reed, 38, of Florida, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon after refusing to come out for hours.
Walmart parking lot standoff shuts down store and traffic
What we know:
Police responded to the Walmart on Route 38 at 1740 NJ-38 around 11:02 p.m. Monday, July 20, after a reported dispute between two people turned into a robbery.
SWAT team officers were spotted arriving at the scene as the barricade continued to unfold.
Officers say Reed entered an RV and would not exit or communicate, and they received information he might have a flamethrower and other weapons inside.
"Blake, come out now. We’re not going to hurt you," officers were heard calling over a loudspeaker for hours as they tried to get Reed to surrender.
Reed was removed safely by law enforcement at around 3 p.m. His family was heard saying, "Thank God!" after he was removed.
Officers shut down the Walmart plaza and surrounding traffic while they worked to secure the scene. Police say specialized resources, including a crisis negotiator and mental health professionals, were brought in to help.
Police used robots and drones throughout the afternoon to try to safely get Reed out of the RV. SWAT teams breached the vehicle, tearing off panels after hours of no response, and eventually entered to take Reed into custody.
The standoff forced the Walmart to close for business Tuesday and disrupted the area for hours. Police had said the incident is "isolated to the Walmart parking lot, and there is no known danger to the public."
Police say no members of the public or law enforcement were injured, and Reed was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Police say Reed has been charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, certain persons not to possess a weapon and obstruction. Additional charges may be pending as the investigation continues.
What we don't know:
Police say the investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time. It is not clear what led to the initial dispute or what specific weapons may have been found in the RV.