Police resolve barricade situation in Culmore

Updated: Police negotiators resolved a 21-hour barricade situation in Culmore Dec. 11 after a man abducted two roommates and assaulted one with a baseball bat. The incident happened at Olde Salem Village in the 6000 block of Bellview Drive.

The victims escaped the apartment and called the police. The victim who was attacked with a bat sustained minor injuries.

After the attack, Brian Ramos, 21, alone with his cat, barricaded himself inside the apartment.   

Despite officers’ attempts to engage in conversation, Ramos refused to come out and proceeded to make threats with a knife. At around 12:20 a.m., officers observed Ramos starting a fire inside the apartment. He then fatally harmed the cat and proceeded to exit his apartment and climb to the roof.

Officers assigned to the FCPD Crisis Negotiation Team, the Unmanned Aircraft System Program, and the Special Operations Division helped take Ramos into custody. Police evacuated people from nearby buildings during the crisis negotiations.

After the 21-hour standoff, Ramos climbed down a ladder provided by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. He was taken into custody without any further incidents.

Ramos was taken to a hospital to be evaluated and then taken to the Fairfax County Detention Center. He was charged with two counts of abduction and two counts of assault. Charges are pending for the death of the cat. He is being held without bond.