Dartmouth man taken into custody following lengthy standoff

By News Staff

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Twitter: @ABC6

DARTMOUTH, MA (WLNE) – An investigation into a disturbance turned into a lengthy Police standoff Tuesday night in Dartmouth.

Dartmouth Police responded to a residence on Old Fall River Road around 8:49 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a disturbance.
Officers on scene were notified by family members that a male suspect had possibly fled the residence armed with a firearm, and was now in the woods behind the property.

Dartmouth Police secured the area and called in assistance from the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) SWAT team due to the threat of danger.

Police said when the SWAT team arrived on scene, officers learned that the suspect had reentered the residence and barricaded himself inside. A Police negotiator then responded to the scene.

According to Police, the male suspect exited the residence around 4:15 a.m. before firing a single shot into the air from the residence’s back deck before retuning inside.

Around 4:50 a.m., Police say, the suspect exited the residence again and was this time taken into custody without further incident, and transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford for evaluation.

Following his arrest, David Lechan, 63, of Dartmouth, was charged with Assault and Battery, Intimidation of a Witness, Threats to Commit a Crime, and Discharging a Firearm within 500’ of a Building.

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