On Wednesday 9/3/25 at approximately 11:35 a.m. the Stroud Area Regional Police Department was dispatched to Walnut Grove Road, located in Stroud Township, for reports of a disorderly male destroying the “Walnut Grove” community sign with a hammer. Upon arrival Officers identified the disorderly person as Alexander Ball, a male that lived in the community. The reporting party informed Officers that she witnessed Ball damage the community sign with a hammer and then returned to his residence and began screaming on his back deck. 

Officers attempted to make contact with Ball but could only hear him screaming, cursing and breaking things inside the residence. A female, later identified as Ball’s mother, was observed inside the residence and visibly upset. Ball told her she was not allowed to open the door and stood in front of the door with the hammer not allowing her to leave. He informed his mom that she was not authorized to leave and saying things that did not make any sense. When Ball eventually retreated to the second floor of the residence, his mother was able to exit the residence.

Officers established a perimeter around the home, neighboring residents were notified to stay inside their homes, and Mobile Crisis was requested to respond to the scene. Additional Officers and resources were also called to assist with the incident. 

Trained SARPD crisis negotiators attempted to establish lines of communication with Ball. Ball could be seen moving around in the house, yelling and responding incoherently but refused to answer his phone. After approximately 3 hours of unsuccessful negotiations and de-escalation tactics, Ball stated that he destroyed his phone with the hammer and continued to yell and respond incoherently. Officers obtained a search warrant and an arrest warrant for criminal violations and a mental health evaluation. 

The SARPD Swat team was then dispatched to assist with the incident.  After Swat arrived on scene, Officers made numerous attempts to get Ball to surrender but were unsuccessful. Swat eventually used breaching devices and deployed non-lethal chemical agents into the home. Ball still refused to surrender and SWAT Officers entered the residence and took custody of Ball without incident at approximately 7:30 p.m. Ball was transported to a local hospital for evaluation/ decontamination from the chemical agents and a mental health evaluation. 

Upon release from the hospital, Alexander Ball, a 29-year-old white male, from East Stroudsburg, will be arrested and charged with the following crimes:

• Unlawful Restraint (M1)
• False Imprisonment (M2)
• Simple Assault (M2)
• Criminal Mischief (M3)
• Disorderly Conduct (M3)

This entire incident lasted over 8 hours and is still an active scene in order for officers to confirm the safety of the situation inside of the residence. 

SARPD would like to thank the District Attorney’s Office, Mobile Crisis, PA State Police, Monroe County Sheriff, Stroud Township, Office of Emergency Management, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Bushkill and Suburban EMS, and all other members of the community that assisted us in this incident.