COOKSBURG, Pa. (EYT) – The standoff in Cook Forest has ended with the suspect surrendering to police late Sunday morning.
Around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, Pennsylvania State Police Troopers responded to an apartment above MacBeth’s Store along State Route 36 in the Cooksburg, Jefferson County, for a report of an intoxicated man with a gun.
The man was identified as 47-year-old John M. MacBeth, of Cooksburg.
Police say MacBeth refused to speak with troopers and would not exit the residence.
A short time later, an arrest warrant was obtained for MacBeth.
The Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) responded to the scene and attempted to serve the arrest warrant.
At this point, MacBeth allegedly fired shots at the police.
Police exchanged gunfire with MacBeth several times over the course of the standoff.
MacBeth surrendered to police without incident around 10:20 a.m. on Sunday.
Police say he was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation and treatment of minor injuries.
Authorities say MacBeth will be arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Gregory Bazylak in Brookville. He faces several counts of the following charges:
– Criminal Attempt — Criminal Homicide
– Aggravated Assault
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person
As a result of the standoff, the Cooksburg area experienced electrical power outages and State Route 36 was closed for over 24 hours.
All roadways in the Cook Forest area have reopened.
Agencies on the scene included the Pennsylvania State Police, DCNR, Sigel VFD, and Marienville VFD.
In a release issued Sunday, the Pennsylvania State Police thanked “the residents of Cooksburg and motorists that traveled through the area during this extensive incident for their patience and understanding until police were able to bring it to a safe conclusion.”
Following the incident, Marienville-based State Police Trooper Bell told exploreClarion.com, “He’s safe and the police are safe. That’s the important thing.”
