An overwhelming display of force and an expertly coordinated police effort were used to end a tense standoff in Ellenville on Thursday, October 12.

At around 9 AM Emar A. Abrams, 30, was involved in a domestic dispute at the Cedar Grove apartment complex with the mother of his two children, Tina Nettles. The argument escalated and Abrams brandished a .45 semiautomatic pistol and fired one shot into a computer screen that Ms. Nettles was sitting near. The bullet broke the screen and sent shards of glass into Mrs. Nettles hand, ricocheted and eventually lodged itself in a wall of the apartment. The two children, a 17-month old and a 9-year old were unharmed.

Abrams then left his apartment via taxi and made his way to the Canal Locks apartment complex, approximately a half-mile away. Police were able to put together enough information early enough so that, by 10AM they started to create a secure perimeter around the complex both to contain Abrams and to protect bystanders.

In addition, Ellenville Police Chief Phil Mattracion was in contact with superintendent of the Ellenville School District, Lisa Wiles, who quickly placed the school under a "lock in" mode that prevented the school's students from heading near the standoff area during school's open-campus lunchtime.

From that point on the day became a waiting game as Abrams hid in what turned out to be the apartment of female friend, Tanisha Torres. As the situation developed, more law enforcement agencies arrived to assist the Ellenville Police Department. Around fifty officers from Ulster County's Emergency Response Unit, the Ulster County Sheriff, the State Bureau Police, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and SWAT teams responded to the incident.

Chief Mattracion, when asked what his strategy was, said, "Time is entirely on our side. There is no sense rushing in if we don't have to. We will wait until we have all of our pieces in place before we make a move."

Law enforcement made phone contact with the apartment sometime after noon and Ms. Torres came out of her apartment to speak with the police. Ms. Torres then went back with police to her apartment and was crucial in talking Abrams out. Chief Mattracion made it clear that, "At no point was she in danger."

As the day stretched on, onlookers from up and down Canal and Center Streets, parts of which were both closed off, would see people moving and comment and wonder if the standoff would end right then.

Finally, just after 2PM, the call came over the police radio that Abrams had been taken into custody and had surrendered peacefully, without incident or injury.

At the time of his arrest Abrams was unarmed. Further information led police to a house on Berme Road where the gun was found in a lockbox. Details as to how the gun had arrived there were not available.

Abrams, who also goes by the alias of "Sulay" will be charged with reckless endangerment in first degree, a felony, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal use of a firearm. Chief Mattracion also said that Child Protective Services and the Ulster County Family Violence Unit would be contacted on behalf of the family.

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