Advertisement Man arrested following overnight standoff in Auburn Police say man threatened ex-wife Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Auburn police said a five-hour standoff in the town Thursday night was sparked by an argument between a man and his ex-wife.Click to watch News 9's coverage.A SWAT team, along with local and state police, swarmed a neighborhood near the Manchester-Auburn town line Thursday night. The standoff eventually ended without any injuries.Police said Albert Olson, 49, threatened to kill his ex-wife and burn down the Reading Street home they share. Police said they were also concerned because it appeared Olson might have a gun."At the time, there was a report that there was a woman who was being held by her ex-husband and that there was a gun involved," said Capt. Gary Bartis.Olson lives at the house along with his ex-wife and two children, who were home at the time. Police said that before the 10 p.m. 911 call, there was an argument and struggle."The victim in this, his ex-wife, was on the phone with his sister because there was some sort of disagreement in the household," Bartis said.Olson's sister placed the 911 call because she was concerned about what was happening. Police locked the neighborhood down."I tried to come outside, and a couple of guys said, 'No, go back in the house. The guy's got a gun over there," said neighbor Tom Lovely.Lovely said he couldn't believe what was happening because he said it seems so out of character for Olson."He's gentle," Lovely said. "He helps us all on the street."After about 40 minutes, police said, the ex-wife and children were able to make it out of the house, but it appeared that Olson was on the move."The phone pings were bringing them into different streets around the area of the home but not at the home," Bartis said.About 3 a.m., police entered the home and found Olson in the basement, where he lives. He was taken into custody without incident."I'm being told he was asleep," Bartis said.Police said they recovered a rusty .22-caliber rifle from a shed.Olson pleaded not guilty to several charges, including false imprisonment. In court, he said he was struck by his ex-wife and denied that there was a gun."First of all, I don't own a firearm," he said. "The firearm in question is a BB gun."A judge set Olson's bail at $3,500.12967056