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Eldred man faces charges after pointing gun at state troopers

A Monroe County man faces multiple charges after a five-plus-hour standoff with state troopers Tuesday.

Seth Michael Gillen, 38, of Monroe Drive in Eldred Township, has been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, persons not permitted to possess a firearm, terroristic threats and possessing instruments of a crime after he pointed a gun at troopers who were responding to a 911 call at the residence.

According to state police, troopers from the Lehighton barracks were dispatched at 10:16 a.m. on Tuesday to a home on the 100 block of Monroe Drive in Eldred Township for a report, filed by Gillen, of a possible overdose on methamphetamine.

Prior to the dispatch, Gillen made comments to the Monroe County 911 dispatcher about possessing a firearm.

When troopers arrived, they requested Gillen to exit the property to speak with them, but as he opened the door, he pointed a handgun at the officers. Troopers then discharged two rounds at Gillen.

Following the exchange, Gillen barricaded himself inside the home and refused to come out when troopers commanded him to do so.

Four people inside the home complied and were taken into custody. Gillen still refused and remained inside.

State police set up a perimeter around the home and called in the Special Emergency Response Team unit.

The state police SERT team was able to negotiate with Gillen, who left the residence at approximately 4 p.m. and was taken into custody.

He was taken to Lehigh Valley Medical Center — Pocono campus in East Stroudsburg for a medical evaluation.

State police are still investigating.