Man arrested after six-hour police standoff

A 50-year-old North Augusta man has been taken into police custody after a six-hour standoff with police that started shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, officials said.

North Augusta Public Safety officers were first notified by phone that Jeffrey A. Burlage, 50, of 110 Womrath Court, had threatened to kill himself and any other officer who went to his residence.

Lt. Tim Pearson, a Public Safety spokesperson, said the veterans hospital had contacted the police to report the threats.

At the Womrath Court residence, officers found that Burlage had barricaded himself in his residence.

Officers maintained communication with Burlage over several hours in an attempt to help him receive medical attention.

Police talked with him over the phone and asked for the assistance of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to negotiate with the man.

Burlage refused all assistance.

During phone negotiations, he threatened to kill North Augusta Public Safety Director John Thomas.

As a result of this threat, officers obtained a warrant on the charge of threatening a public official.

As SLED deployed their robotics to help communicate with the man and SWAT members began their approach to the suspect's residence, Burlage voluntarily exited the front door at 3:15 p.m. and surrendered to authorities, Pearson said.

No shots were fired. No injuries were reported.

Burlage was arrested and transported to North Augusta Public Safety headquarters and booked.

Burlage will be transported to the Aiken County Detention Center where North Augusta officers will work with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office to insure that Burlage will be offered mental health assistance, Pearson said.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.