Standoff ends in Raleigh neighborhood

A five-hour standoff between Raleigh police and a man who threatened to harm himself at a residence on Hertford Street ended peacefully on Tuesday evening.

Police said a man inside a home at 531 Hertford St. threatened to hurt himself at about 1:30 p.m. He was armed with a gun.

"The individual was making statements that indicated that he might do harm to himself and that is what caused us to become involved,” police spokesman Jim Sughrue said.

By 6:30 p.m., police had the man in custody.

No injuries were reported.

During the standoff, authorities closed a portion of Scotland Street, near Lassiter Mill Road in the Country Club Hills subdivision, as they secured the scene. All streets were reopened by 7 p.m.

The man's name was not released, but the home is owned by Harold Earl Blondeau, according to property records. Neighbors told WRAL News that 66-year-old Blondeau was the man who barricaded himself in the house and who was seen being taken away by police.

Police have not yet said if the man will face charges.

Blondeau was sentenced in August to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty last year to investment adviser fraud and tax fraud.

Blondeau, who had worked at Morgan Keegan, was using his role an investment adviser to gain access to his clients’ funds and then convert that money for his own personal use, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He used the money to purchase items including a beach home and wine. Authorities said he also failed to report or pay any taxes on the money.