MARGATE – Charges have been filed against a Pennsylvania woman estranged from her young son who barricaded herself for 15 hours Wednesday inside her father’s Margate apartment.
The Margate City Police Department has charged Meagan Daleandro, 37, of Norwood, Pennsylvania, with one count of trespassing, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of resisting arrest.
It was approximately 7 a.m. Aug. 28 when police were called to a residence on the unit-block of N. Coolidge Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance at the multi-family complex. Neighbors called police after hearing the disturbance that involved Daleandro, who was suffering from a mental health crisis and arguing with her father who resides at the apartment.
He did not let her in, but Daleandro gained access through an unsecured second-story window in an attempt to retrieve her 5-year-old son who she believed was staying with her father. The family had a restraining order against Daleandro who had lost custody of her son. After she refused to follow her father’s requests to leave the area, he left the apartment to avoid further confrontation, and she barricaded herself inside. The child was not in the apartment at the time of the incident.
Crisis negotiators from the Margate Police Department, Ventnor Police Department and Atlantic County Prosecutors Office attempted to de-escalate the situation for hours, but their efforts were unsuccessful in getting Daleandro to vacate the building. Attempts were also made through AtlanticCare Behavioral Health counselors, which were unsuccessful as well.
Police closed off streets around the complex to ensure the safety of other residents and to allow police to negotiate with the woman.
The Atlantic County Emergency Response Team was finally able to gain entry at approximately 9:45 p.m. by using a device to break through the front door. As police made entry, Daleandro grabbed a hammer to fend off police, locked herself in a bedroom and continued to evade police orders. Police had to use a “bean bag” gun to restrain her, which resulted in an injury to her hand. She was transported to AtlanticCare Regional Medical Center for treatment of her hand and a mental evaluation.
Police later discovered a firearm belonging to the woman’s father in a closet, but Daleandro was unaware there was a gun in the apartment.
All charges were placed on a summons. Daleandro’s first court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 25 in Atlantic County Superior Court.
Copyright Access Network 2024
