Members of the Oak Ridge Police Department are pictured outside a home on East Tennessee Avenue on Saturday, March 19, 2016.
Note: This story was updated at 10:42 a.m.
A 30-year-old woman was taken into custody and to a hospital after barricading herself in a bedroom and mentioning suicide before throwing a pistol out a window while negotiating with police officers on Saturday morning, authorities said.
The Oak Ridge Police Department was on the scene for hours before the situation at 426 East Tennessee Avenue was peacefully resolved.
Police said they found an arsenal inside the home, including more than a dozen high-powered rifles, shotguns, an assault rifle, a pistol, and several boxes of ammunition.
The ORPD responded to a domestic disturbance call at the home at about 2:04 a.m. Saturday.
“Officers arrived and made contact with a male subject, who advised his girlfriend, who was very intoxicated, had locked herself in the bedroom and was in possession of multiple weapons,” an ORPD press release said. “Officers verified a female subject identified as Sara Flynt, 30, was barricaded in an upstairs bedroom of the residence and initiated negotiations utilizing ORPD Crisis Intervention Team members.
“During negotiations, Ms. Flynt made numerous statements referencing suicide and was heard manipulating weapons.
“Approximately one hour later, Ms. Flynt threw a .45 pistol out the bedroom window and refused to communicate further with officers. Tactical officers responded to the scene, and at approximately 8:29 a.m. they took Ms. Flynt into custody and transported her to Methodist Medical Center for evaluation.”
Police secured the weapons inside the home, the press release said.
“This investigation remains ongoing; no charges are currently pending and no further information is available for release at this time,” the release said.
The Oak Ridge Police Department sent out a text alert at 6:32 a.m. that East Tennessee Avenue was blocked at Taylor and Tabor roads and California Avenue due to special enforcement activity. They sent out a message a few hours later, at 8:42 a.m. that the police activity was complete.
“Please convey my gratitude to all officers involved with this incident,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson told Police Chief Jim Akagi. “The successful conclusion is indicative of the high level of training and professionalism of ORPD. The mayor (Warren Gooch) has also asked this his appreciation be expressed.”
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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Joseph Lee says
“Police said they found an arsenal inside the home, including more than a dozen high-powered rifles, shotguns, an assault rifle, a pistol, and several boxes of ammunition.”
What’s wrong with this picture? THANK YOU ORPD !!
Philip W Nipper says
It suggests to me Mr. Lee that you probably need to stay clear of East Tennessee Ave!
Mark Caldwell says
Thank you ORPD. It’s good to see Oak Ridge rid of these guns and the crazies who had them.