(Lawrenceville, Georgia) Gwinnett County Police Department officers responded to a domestic dispute call at 4110 Tuggle Road, Buford, on March 19, 2018.  The officers found that the suspect, Stephen Morgan (W/M, 29 years old), had threatened his family members and was in possession of a knife.  He brandished the knife in the officers’ presence, but was not close enough to threaten them directly.  Family members advised that Morgan was schizophrenic, and officers witnessed him acting erratically.  The family decided to leave the residence.  Officers made the decision to leave the premises as well, until a judge could be consulted on criminal charges.  After consulting with a judge, warrants were obtained for simple assault and terroristic threats and acts.

On March 20, 2018, officers received a tip that Morgan was at his residence at 4110 Tuggle Road.  Officers responded, confirmed that all other family members were outside of the house, and began to try and call Morgan outside.  Morgan was acting erratically and would not come out.  Family members advised that Morgan still had the knife and that there was a firearm inside the residence.

Due to Morgan’s refusal to come out, officers obtained a search warrant for the residence and notified the SWAT team.  A partial SWAT element responded at about 10:00am.  Morgan continued to refuse to come out, and sent threatening text messages to his family.  Among those texts was a message threatening to kill police officers.  A full SWAT callout was initiated at 11:45am.

Negotiators had intermittent contact with Morgan, during which it became apparent that Morgan was suffering from a mental health problem.  Negotiations were unsuccessful for several hours.  At about 3:00pm SWAT officers fired gas rounds into the house.  Morgan began speaking with negotiators at that point, and said he wished to surrender.  He came out and was taken into custody without further incident at 3:30pm.

Morgan was evaluated by fire department personnel, then allowed to speak with his family before being transported to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.  His charges were simple assault, terroristic threats and acts, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.