Police scene in Back Maryland after Edwin Sanabia ran into his home after allegedly threatening a teen with a knife. (Photo by Papo Nunez Santiago)
Three men who sparked separate calls for the Atlantic City Police Department’s Emergency Response Team within five days are now all in jail.
The emergency response team consists of the SWAT Team, Bomb Squad and Crisis Negotiation Team.
The first incident began June 11, when detectives saw Kenneth Epperson getting out of a vehicle in the 900 block of Keener Avenue.
He was wanted out of Egg Harbor City on an obstruction case, court records show.
Epperson fled when he saw the detectives, and refused to leave the residence for about two hours, until crisis negotiators were speak with him, Capt. Kevin Fair said.
He surrendered to SWAT.
Epperson also had fled a motor vehicle stop two days earlier, and faces additional criminal and motor vehicle charges for that, according to court records.
Boston Avenue was the scene of another heavy police presence Saturday.
At that time, Anthony Copes was sought on multiple warrants, including burglary a property on the first block of North Boston Avenue days earlier, Fair said.
He had been evicted from the property, where police saw him Saturday, according to the report. He then ran inside the multi-unit building.
After three hours, Copes could not be contacted and it was believed he fled before officers set up a perimeter.
Officer Robert McDevitt found Copes the next day. At that time, a pitbull belonging to Copes was found neglected, and he was charged with animal cruelty.
He has a detention hearing set for Tuesday.
Police were looking for a man who threatened a teeanger with a knife when the Emergency Response Team descended on the 800 block of Maryland Avenue this past Tuesday.
Edwin Sanabia, 26, had gone inside his residence in the city's Back Maryland section, but could not be reached by police.
SWAT Team members entered the residence after several hours of attempted communication, but Sanabia was not home.
A witness told police Thursday that he was back at the residence, and officers were able to take him into custody without incident with help from family members, Fair said.
He is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and lewdness. He is jailed awaiting his first court appearance.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766. Information also may be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
