Man Surrenders After Standoff, Threatening Wife With Sword, Shotgun

A Bradenton man was arrested Friday night after threatening his wife with a sword and shotgun and barricading himself inside his home, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office reported.

Thomas Parks, 59, became angry with his neighbors in the 5200 block of 41st Ave. W. sometime before 11 p.m. and was arguing with them, according to a news release. He went into his house and got into an altercation with his wife, threatening her with a sword and loaded shotgun, the release stated. She fled the house, and the sheriff's office was called.

When deputies arrived and talked to Parks, he told them they "would have to come in and shoot him in the head," the release stated. But after more dialogue, Parks came out of the house and was taken into custody without incident.

Parks was taken to Manatee County Jail and charged with aggravated domestic assault. He was also being held for a psychiatric evaluation under the Baker Act.

Several weapons and firearms were found in Parks' house and removed at his wife's request, the sheriff's office said.