Snow shoveling argument leads to assault, standoff in Bear, Delaware

BEAR, Delaware (WPVI) — Police in New Castle County say a man forced his way into a neighbor’s home and assaulted two people after an argument over snow shoveling, leading to an hourslong standoff before officers arrested him.

Authorities said the confrontation began in the Concord Trace Townhomes community on Wednesday when a male resident and a woman, identified by police as the suspect’s mother-in-law, argued over snow being shoveled into an assigned parking space.

The resident allows the woman to use a spot that belongs to him, police said.

“He believed that the dispute was over. Later in the morning, he found that it evidently, it wasn’t,” Sgt. Andrea Botterbusch of the New Castle County Police said.

Police said 33-year-old Ras Loyd forced his way into the man’s home, assaulted him and another neighbor who was present, and threatened them with a gun. One victim lost consciousness, according to investigators.

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Both men were treated at the hospital and released.

Officers initially responded but were unable to locate Loyd. They returned the next day with a warrant, prompting an eight-hour barricade situation.

A neighbor recorded video of SWAT officers leading Lloyd out of his home after the standoff. Police later discovered he had broken through attic drywall to hide inside an adjoining townhome.

Some residents were evacuated during the standoff and expressed disbelief that the incident stemmed from a dispute over shoveling.

Police said disagreements over parking and snow removal are not uncommon, but the violence in this case was unusual.

“But not to this level of assault where a victim is knocked unconscious and the threat of a firearm occurs,” Botterbusch said.

Neighbors described the winter weather as a source of tension.

“The weather, plus the snow, it just got everybody frustrated. You know, people can’t get to work and stuff,” said resident Travion Woods.

Thomas said the situation never should have escalated.

“I feel like if it takes that much anger to where you want to punch somebody and fight somebody, maybe you shouldn’t be outside. Maybe you need to hire somebody. I honestly don’t think it was that deep and it needed to be that escalated,” she said.

Loyd faces charges related to the assault as well as resisting arrest and criminal mischief, police said.