FOSTER TOWNSHIP -- State and local police descended on a neighborhood in the village of Highland in Luzerne County Wednesday for a standoff that lasted for nearly six hours.
Investigators say Doug Bitzer of Freeland assaulted his girlfriend Tuesday, then went onto her property Wednesday and threatened her. He then went to a friend’s garage in Foster Township where police say the standoff happened. The believed Bitzer was holed up inside the garage with a gun; he refused to come out.
Finally, just before 8 p.m., Bitzer was arrested. State police say no one was injured.
The standoff shocked people living in the small neighborhood near Freeland. Some were kept from going into their nearby homes.
"Unbelievable, I'm down here 53 years in this house, never seen anything like this in my life. They chased the kids in and they told us not to leave,” said Nancy Troell of Foster Township.
Susan Pavuk lives just doors down from where the standoff occurred and found she couldn't get home.
“We come home to see this. What's going on? We don't know. I can't get in my house, so I have to stay right here. You don't see that kind of stuff like this around here,” said Pavuk.
Neighbors say they're glad it all ended peacefully.
"I'm glad for that. I know the kid and I know the girlfriend. In fact, the girlfriend was born across the street,” said Troell.
Bitzer is facing charges including burglary, aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.