This story was originally published on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7:23 a.m. and was updated at 1:44 p.m.
SELKIRK — A 59-year-old Selkirk man surrendered to authorities after a six-hour-long standoff with police on Monday, Jan. 27.
According to Bethlehem Police Cmdr. Adam Hornick, officers responded to a welfare check request at an address on Miller Avenue in Selkirk at 6:10 p.m. Upon meeting its resident Thomas J. Fris, he allegedly verbally threatened the officers and barricaded himself in his residence. Officers also determined that there was an unrelated active arrest warrant issued out of the Bethlehem Town Court for him.
As Fris continued verbally threatening the officers, Bethlehem police and New York State Police closed Miller Avenue. Being assisted by the State Police Special Operations Response Team, trained negotiators from Bethlehem police and State Police spoke to Fris for six hours before he voluntarily surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.
Fris was arraigned in the Bethlehem Town Court and charged with a criminal contempt misdemeanor. According to Hornick, Fris was then released due to the new bail reform statutes and has a scheduled return court date of Tuesday, Feb. 18.
After being released, Fris was transported to a medical facility, the name of which was not disclosed, for further evaluation.
