Police in standoff at Middletown apartment complex

MIDDLETOWN —Several apartment buildings were evacuated after a man barricaded himself inside an apartment on Wednesday morning.

The nine-hour standoff ended peacefully without injury when James P. Guiney, 39, surrendered to police after negotiations and the release of a relative from an apartment at the MacGuire Grove apartment complex on the southbound side of Route 35, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Guiney is being held on outstanding warrant with additional charges expected.

The Monmouth County Emergency Response Team responded to the situation, which started just before 8 a.m.

The circumstances of what prompted the standoff were not disclosed. It's not clear if the apartment was Guiney's residence.

The Asbury Park Press reported surrounding apartment buildings were evacuated.

Route 35 remained open during the standoff but traffic moved slowly past the complex where traffic could not pass.

The FAA had a flight restriction in place within a 1.5 radius of the complex restricting planes from flying lower than 3,000 feet.