Overnight standoff ends as suspect taken into custody
Police say Brinkman is suspect of interest in North Royalton, North Canton murders
Much of the negotiations during the 10-hour standoff at 3351 Valley Forge Drive took place through a second-story window. Photo by MELISSA MARTIN
BRUNSWICK – A 45-year-old suspect was taken into custody in the early morning hours of June 13 following an overnight standoff at a residence on Valley Forge Drive.
Brunswick Police Lt. Robert Safran said police, members of the SWAT team, the Southwest Enforcement Bureau and the FBI were on the scene for approximately nine hours negotiating with the suspect, George Brinkman, who was eventually taken into custody at approximately 5:30 a.m. that morning.
Most of the negotiations were conducted through an open second-story window to the residence, Safran said.
“There were a lot of agencies here obviously doing a lot of work all night long,” he said following the conclusion of the incident.
Safran said police were eventually able to enter the residence through an unlocked front door. Though Brinkman had a handgun in his possession, no shots were fired during the incident. Safran did note, however, that police deployed a Taser before taking Brinkman into custody.
“When we negotiate with someone, we obviously want it to be a peaceful ending so we prefer he comes out on his own,” Safran said. “But if he forces our hand or we need to arrest him, that’s what we are here to do.”
Immediately following his arrest, Brinkman was transported to an undisclosed hospital for evaluation, Safran said.
Police said the suspect is believed to be connected to a triple homicide that took place June 11 in North Royalton. There, police said a woman and her two adult daughters were found deceased in their Ridge Road home.
“He is definitely a person of interest in the North Royalton investigation,” Safran said of Brinkman, who remains in custody at the North Royalton jail.
Police identified the victims as 45-year-old Suzanne Taylor and her daughters, 21-year-old Taylor Pifer and 18-year-old Kylie Pifer. Police say the three women may have died the day before their bodies were found.
North Royalton Police have indicated that the mother was stabbed at least once, but investigators have yet to release a cause of death for the woman’s two daughters.
Law enforcement officials have also indicated that Brinkman may also be connected to a double homicide that took place in North Canton.
Those victims have been identified as Rogell Eugene John II, 71, and Roberta Ray John, 64 who were found in their Stark County home the evening of June 12. The cause of the couple’s death has yet to be released. Stark County Sheriff officials said in a press conference Brinkman was the couple’s housesitter and may have been a past boyfriend of the couple’s daughter.
Safran said the investigation has now been turned back over to the North Royalton Police Department. Charges are pending in both cases.
Brunswick Police Lt. Robert Safran said police, members of the SWAT team, the Southwest Enforcement Bureau and the FBI were on the scene for approximately nine hours negotiating with the suspect, George Brinkman, who was eventually taken into custody at approximately 5:30 a.m. that morning.
Most of the negotiations were conducted through an open second-story window to the residence, Safran said.
“There were a lot of agencies here obviously doing a lot of work all night long,” he said following the conclusion of the incident.
Safran said police were eventually able to enter the residence through an unlocked front door. Though Brinkman had a handgun in his possession, no shots were fired during the incident. Safran did note, however, that police deployed a Taser before taking Brinkman into custody.
“When we negotiate with someone, we obviously want it to be a peaceful ending so we prefer he comes out on his own,” Safran said. “But if he forces our hand or we need to arrest him, that’s what we are here to do.”
Immediately following his arrest, Brinkman was transported to an undisclosed hospital for evaluation, Safran said.
Police said the suspect is believed to be connected to a triple homicide that took place June 11 in North Royalton. There, police said a woman and her two adult daughters were found deceased in their Ridge Road home.
“He is definitely a person of interest in the North Royalton investigation,” Safran said of Brinkman, who remains in custody at the North Royalton jail.
Police identified the victims as 45-year-old Suzanne Taylor and her daughters, 21-year-old Taylor Pifer and 18-year-old Kylie Pifer. Police say the three women may have died the day before their bodies were found.
North Royalton Police have indicated that the mother was stabbed at least once, but investigators have yet to release a cause of death for the woman’s two daughters.
Law enforcement officials have also indicated that Brinkman may also be connected to a double homicide that took place in North Canton.
Those victims have been identified as Rogell Eugene John II, 71, and Roberta Ray John, 64 who were found in their Stark County home the evening of June 12. The cause of the couple’s death has yet to be released. Stark County Sheriff officials said in a press conference Brinkman was the couple’s housesitter and may have been a past boyfriend of the couple’s daughter.
Safran said the investigation has now been turned back over to the North Royalton Police Department. Charges are pending in both cases.