Community members and local officials gathered Sunday in front of the West Cross Street house where on Jan. 4 and 5, 2026, police spent more than 30 hours in crisis negotiations with a man, 53, who barricaded himself inside.
On Jan. 11, 2026, neighbors united on the front lawn in a display of support for the man, now in police custody, after residents and some elected officials raised questions about the police response to the incident.
Police response to barricade incident
Just after 12 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, Washtenaw County Crisis Negotiators and Washtenaw Metro SWAT arrived on the scene to assist the Ypsilanti Police Department, stated a post from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.
YPD had responded following a call reporting an individual allegedly banging on neighbors’ doors with what police initially described as a long stick, stated the post. Police said they later confirmed the object was a sword and that the man confronted officers before retreating into the residence, the post stated. Police said it was unknown if there were additional weapons present, the post stated…