Peaceful Ending to Dad Barricaded With Young Child in Atlantic City, NJ, Home

Authorities in Atlantic City say there was a peaceful ending to a situation where an allegedly armed father barricaded himself inside of his home with his 6-year-old child.

The incident occurred late Wednesday afternoon in the 1800 block of North Ohio Avenue.

Officers say they responded after receiveing a call about a child custody dispute and violation of a civil court order, according to a press release from the Atlantic City Police Department.

As officers were responding, the call was updated to include that a man, Henry Dean, had pointed a handgun from the door of his residence at a woman leading her to flee.

The woman was attempting to exchange custody of their shared 6-year-old child; Dean then went back inside the home with the child.

Arriving officers attempted to utilize [a] police vehicle’s public address system to call Dean out of the residence. The officer’s attempts were unsuccessful and the police department’s Emergency Response Team, which includes the SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiators, was activated.

ACPD crisis negotiators then contacted Dean who ultimately surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.

Detectives later executed a search warrant and they say they found a replica handgun.

50-year-old Henry Dean of Atlantic City has been charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. He was remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

During the incident, neighbors were evacuated from and the Venice Park bridge was closed to traffic.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.