An argument over household chores allegedly led a 64-year-old Lower Southampton man to threaten his roommate with a gun and then barricade himself in a house for five hours before surrendering to police Wednesday morning.
Lower Southampton police allege that Edward Naumowicz initially came to the front door of the home in the 500 block of Somers Avenue when police responded to a domestic disturbance call shortly before 4 a.m. But when police asked him to come outside, Naumowicz shut the door and refused to come out, according to a probable cause affidavit.
David Toner, who also lives in the home, told police that an intoxicated Naumowicz pulled a 9 mm semi-automatic “big gun” on him after they argued over Naumowicz not helping around the house the previous week, the affidavit shows. Initially police reported that Naumowicz became enraged after Toner suggested that Naumowicz was romantically interested in their landlord, who is Toner’s girlfriend and lives at the home.
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| Edward Naumowicz |
During the argument, Naumowicz allegedly told Toner that “times are changing,” before calling the landlord, who was not home, according to police. Toner alleges that he heard Naumowicz on the phone threatening to kill him.
When Naumowicz hung up after not reaching the homeowner, he pointed the gun at Toner, who called police, court documents show.
Police said the gun belonged to the landlord’s late husband.
A police tactical team arrived on the scene to negotiate with Naumowicz, but he did not answer his cell phone or the door, forcing police to use bullhorns. Nearby residents were notified about the police activity and all side streets were blocked off during the incident. Shortly before 9 a.m., Naumowicz surrendered peacefully.
Naumowicz reportedly told police that he hid the gun in his bedroom but denied using it, court documents said. Police obtained a search warrant for the home, but had not found the gun as of Wednesday evening.
Naumowicz was arraigned before Lower Southampton District Judge John Waltman on charges of aggravated and simple assault, theft, terroristic threats, and possession of an instrument of crime. He was sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $500,000 bail.
Aside from a DUI conviction in Philadelphia, Naumowicz has no other criminal history, Lower Southampton police Chief William Wiegman Jr. said.
Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia
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