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"Rifle" Involved In Ipswich Standoff Turns Out To Be Walking Stick

IPSWICH (CBS) - A 48-year-old man faces charges after an hour-and-a-half-long standoff with police on Friday in Ipswich.

The man originally called 911 just before 11 a.m. and allegedly threatened to take his own life.

"The male subject claimed if the police showed up, 'I'm well-equipped and prepared to fight,'" said Ipswich Police Lt. Dan Moriarty.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports.

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When police arrived, they saw the man laying down by the rocks next to the Ipswich River. The man threatened to kill himself and authorities with an alleged weapon that police mistook for a rifle.

Lt. Moriarty said the suspect was holding the alleged weapon when officers arrived at the County Road bridge. But, police didn't realize the weapon was actually a walking stick until after the man surrendered peacefully.

"Upon further investigation, it was determined that it was about a four-foot walking stick, a black walking stick," said Lt. Moriarty.

The man will be charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, threats to commit a crime, and disorderly conduct.

The man was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

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