Executive Summary
- Ras Loyd, 33, was arrested following a SWAT standoff in Bear, Delaware.
- The incident originated from a violent dispute over snow removal and parking.
- Police allege Loyd assaulted two men and hid in a vacant unit via attic access.
- Charges include First Degree Assault, Burglary, and Resisting Arrest.
A dispute over snow removal and parking escalated into a violent assault and a subsequent police standoff in Bear, Delaware, resulting in the arrest of a 33-year-old man by SWAT teams on Thursday. According to the New Castle County Police, the conflict began at the Concord Trace community and required the intervention of multiple tactical units to resolve.
Authorities state that the initial incident occurred on Wednesday, January 28, when the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Ras Loyd, allegedly forced his way into a home within the complex. Police reports indicate that Loyd assaulted two men, ages 57 and 49, and threatened them with a firearm. Officials noted that one of the victims was rendered unconscious during the altercation, which reportedly stemmed from an argument regarding a shoveled parking spot.
Officers returned to the complex on Thursday to apprehend Loyd, but he refused to exit the residence, initiating a barricade situation. The operation involved the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team and the Wilmington Police Drone Team. Due to the layout of the townhomes and potential danger to the public, law enforcement evacuated neighbors in the attached row to the Bear Library.
After a prolonged standoff, SWAT team members breached the residence. Investigators discovered that Loyd had utilized the attic drywall to access a neighboring vacant townhome to evade capture. A police K9 named "Luke" located the suspect in a bedroom of the vacant unit. Following a struggle with officers, Loyd was taken into custody and subsequently treated at a hospital for injuries sustained during the arrest.
Loyd is currently held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $106,000 cash bail. He faces multiple felonies, including Assault in the First Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Burglary in the First Degree, and Aggravated Menacing. Additional charges related to the standoff include Burglary in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest, and Criminal Mischief.
Investigative Outlook and Public Safety
This incident underscores the operational challenges law enforcement faces in multi-unit residential structures, where interconnected layouts can facilitate suspect movement and complicate containment strategies. The evacuation of residents highlights the priority placed on minimizing collateral risk during tactical operations involving potential firearms. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
