TRUMBULL COUNTY Standoff ends with man's arrest

Police entered the home after losing phone contact with the suspect.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BROOKFIELD -- A Stewart-Sharon Road man was arrested on a domestic violence charge after he holed himself up in his residence and held police at bay for more than six hours.
Daniel Strimbu, 37, of 7087 Stewart-Sharon Road, is being held in the Trumbull County Jail, and could face additional charges, according to township Police Chief Dan Faustino.
Strimbu was arrested around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday after a neighbor saw news reports about the situation and called to tell police Strimbu had just staggered out of the woods about 10-12 houses down the road from Strimbu's residence, Faustino said.
The standoff began shortly after noon Wednesday, reports said. Faustino said a family member came to the police station to report Strimbu had fired at least five shots inside the home after an argument that morning with his girlfriend and brother about car keys.
At least one bullet traveled through a wall and into an unoccupied bedroom, Faustino said. No one was injured, but Strimbu had made threats to harm himself and others, he added.
"We had officers there, and the Trumbull County SWAT Task Force was called to the scene," Faustino said.
Keeping watch
Officers kept a watch on the home for several hours, and were able to maintain phone contact with Strimbu for much of that time, Faustino said. However, Strimbu managed to slip out of the house.
"We sent officers to the residence ... after we lost phone contact," sometime around 6 p.m., Faustino said. "They saw no signs of activity inside the home."
Police got a key from a family member and entered the home but did not locate Strimbu inside. Faustino said officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun, an assault rifle and several rounds of ammunition inside the home, as well as a suspected marijuana plant growing outside.
When arrested, Strimbu had a switchblade knife on him, as well as suspected narcotics, the chief said. Police plan to confer with prosecutors to determine what other charges can be filed against Strimbu.
slshaulis@vindy.com