Suspect in custody after barricade situation, house fire in Clinton neighborhood

CLINTON, Md. - A man taken into custody Tuesday is suspected of breaking into a house in Prince George's County, setting a fire once inside, and stealing a weapon before fleeing from police and hiding out in a wooded area behind the home.

Police say they were called to the 7700 block of Surratts Road in Clinton, Md. around 8 a.m. this morning after a neighbor reported a break-in. Once officers arrived they spotted smoke coming from the house and saw an armed man running from the home into a nearby wooded area.

SWAT crews set up a perimeter while fire crews put out the flames at the house. Residents in the area were asked to shelter in place.

The armed man remained hidden from police for about two hours before he was apprehended by officers. The rifle he took from the home was also recovered in the wooded area.

Authorities have identified the man as 33-year-old Wayne Gardiner. Police say he is from the Clinton area and has an extensive criminal record. He remains in police custody at this time. It is not clear what charges he will face.