Standoff suspect checked into hospital

FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Police return to the Ravenite Pizzeria for the second time in one night to find 46-year-old Richard Gambino barricaded inside. The standoff lasted 6 hours, and ended with police dragging Gambino out of the building.

Police say Richard Gambino was causing some trouble even before he locked himself inside the Ravenite Pizzeria.

Sgt. Chris Sawyer of the Fairhope Police Department said they received two complaints about Gambino.

"The one we got earlier was some type of disturbance in the bar involving him, officers determined there was no crime they could arrest him for they investigated to extent possible and then they left."

Sgt. Sawyer said the next phone call came from a family member.

"It was a few hours later that his family contacted us and told us he had locked himself inside and was actually destroying property inside the restaurant."

When police showed up, they found the 46-year-old locked inside, intoxicated, and then learned he had threatened to blow up the building using the gas lines.

After Gambino had been barricaded inside the building for about 6 hours, police used a flash-bang grenade to get him out.

No one was injured during the incident.

Friends of Gambino's told Fox10 he is going through a divorce and that may have pushed him to act out in the way he did. His step son said they are going to get him help and figure everything out.

Gambino was charged with reckless endangerment and taken to Searcy Hospital in Mt. Vernon, AL, for psychiatric screening.

Several business owners in the downtown Fairhope area said they do not think Tuesday mornings incident will have much of an effect on their businesses.

Betty Haynie owns an antique shop, just a few doors down from where the standoff took place.

"I don't think it will have a huge effect it might have a spotty effect a few people who may say well I don't think Fairhope is as safe as we thought," She said.

Haynie said she isn't too worried.

"As a merchant I have not gotten concerned enough to take some serious precautions because I do feel safe and I don't think that one incident will have that much difference," Haynie said.