A Delray Beach man was taken into custody after police say he opened fire on officers who were trying to serve warrants at his home.
The incident began Thursday morning in the 4200 block of Palm Forest Drive South, where officers arrived to serve an arrest warrant, a search warrant, and a DNA warrant on 56-year-old Evan Berkowitz.
According to police, Berkowitz barricaded himself inside the residence and fired shots at officers as they attempted to make contact. The Delray Beach Police Department’s SWAT team responded and established a perimeter around the home while negotiators worked to bring the standoff to a peaceful end.
As the situation dragged into the afternoon, Berkowitz allegedly continued firing in the direction of officers. Authorities then used a tactical SWAT vehicle to breach the home. Police said Berkowitz also fired at that vehicle before eventually surrendering.
No officers or civilians were injured during the standoff.
Police said Berkowitz had already been wanted in connection with an attempted traffic stop last week, during which he allegedly fled. He had been facing charges including aggravated fleeing and eluding and reckless driving. Additional charges are expected following Thursday’s armed confrontation.
The tense standoff ended without injuries, but police say the case escalated significantly once gunfire was directed at law enforcement.
Harlan Kilstein the publisher of this website is a resident of Delray. He has lived in Palm Beach County since 1997, In that time he has explored everything for surfing on private beaches in Delray to walks up and down Atlantic Avenue.
He is known to drop everything at a moment's notice to fish in Delray Lakes, bird watch, goes horseback riding or play pinball at the Delray Pin Ball Museum.
You can find him either sipping a coffee on Atlantic Avenue or drinking a flight of whiskey at Warren's.
One thing is certain, he knows Delray Beach.
