Charges have been filed against a Pennsylvania woman who allegedly barricaded herself for 15 hours Wednesday inside her father’s Margate apartment trying to get to her estranged young son.
Meagan Daleandro, 37, of Norwood, Pa., is charged with trespassing, unlawful possession of a weapon and resisting arrest.
Police were called to a residence on the first block of North Coolidge Avenue at about 7 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a domestic disturbance at the multi-family complex. Neighbors called police after hearing the disturbance that involved Daleandro, who was suffering from a mental health crisis and arguing with her father who resides at the apartment, according to police.
He did not let her in, but Daleandro gained access through an unsecured second-story window in an attempt to retrieve her 5-year-old son who she believed was staying with her father, according to the report.
The family had a restraining order against Daleandro who had lost custody of her son. After she refused to follow her father’s requests to leave the area, he left the apartment to avoid further confrontation, and she barricaded herself inside, Downbeach.com reported. The child was not in the apartment at the time of the incident.
Crisis negotiators from Margate and Ventnor police departments, along with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office attempted to de-escalate the situation for hours, but their efforts were unsuccessful in getting Daleandro to vacate the building, according to the report. Attempts were also made through AtlantiCare Behavioral Health counselors, which were unsuccessful as well.
Police closed off streets around the complex to ensure the safety of other residents and to allow police to negotiate with the woman.
The Atlantic County Emergency Response Team was finally able to gain entry at about 9:45 p.m. by using a device to break through the front door, according to the report. As police made entry, Daleandro grabbed a hammer to fend off police, locked herself in a bedroom and continued to evade police orders. Police had to use a “bean bag” gun to restrain her, which resulted in an injury to her hand. She was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment of her hand and a mental evaluation.
Police later discovered a firearm belonging to the woman’s father in a closet, but Daleandro was unaware there was a gun in the apartment.
All charges were placed on a summons. Daleandro — whose last name is also listed as Deleandro — is scheduled to appear in Atlantic County Superior Court on Sept. 25.
Heavy police presence on Coolidge Avenue in Margate, where a woman was barricaded in an apartment.
