A seven and a half hour stand-off in the 2500 block of Avenel Drive ended peacefully Saturday afternoon according to Farmers Branch police.
Just after 4 a.m. Saturday, police were called to the home by Rachel Tanner who told police she had been out with friends when she received a few strange phone calls from her house and no one was speaking on the other end. Tanner called 911 as she drove home.
Officers found Mark Crowe, 35, armed and barricaded inside a home, in violation of a protective order, and told police he has a bomb, police said.
Police got three children and their grandmother out of the home safely but left Crowe inside and retreated after he threatened to kill himself.
Neighbors were evacuated as a safety precaution while the SWAT team arrived to help with negotiations.
Farmers Branch police said that during the standoff the home caught fire. Crowe is suspected of starting the fire, but that's still under investigation.
Because of the bomb threat and the fact that Crowe was armed, Farmers Branch police said firefighters put the fire out from a ladder truck while the SWAT team surrounded them.
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The house was destroyed by the fire and Crowe moved to the backyard, where the SWAT team said they could see him with what appeared to be a pistol.
Tanner said her ex-boyfriend has been in and out of jail for assaulting her and violating a protective order. She said Crowe got out of jail on bond about one week ago and is not supposed to be at her home because of a restraining order against him.
Farmers Branch police said Crowe surrendered to officers and was taken into custody without incident.
Crowe is currently being held at the Farmers Branch Justice Center for violation of a protective order and felon in possession of a firearm.
