Upper Perk Police were called to the 600 block of Hamilton Road in East Greenville around 1 a.m. Sunday for the report of an armed subject who fired a handgun after an argument with his girlfriend.

        Several neighboring police departments were called to assist with the shots-fired incident.  The specialized North Penn Tactical Response Team (NPTRT) also responded to the scene.

        According to police reports, Joshua Nesemeier, 33, was intoxicated and went into his backyard and fired approximately five rounds of ammunition from his handgun towards a nearby park. The park is located directly behind the residence, which lists Nesemeier as an owner.

        Police arrived and attempted to have Nesemeier exit the home without success, instigating the standoff.

        Hamilton Drive residents were evacuated from the area, with many temporarily housed in the East Greenville Community Center located just off Colonial Drive, about two blocks away.  Residents unable to evacuate due to disabilities, etc., were directed to “shelter in place” by police until the incident was declared under control.

        A blast was heard throughout the Colonial Village section of town around 4 a.m. when police set off an NFD (no flash diversionary) device inside the residence. The loud noise woke many neighbors who then wandered out onto Blaker and Colonial drives to see what the commotion was.

        Shortly after, Nesemeier was taken into custody and the standoff ended.

        Nesemeier was charged with recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned by District Justice Ester Casillo of Norristown and remanded to Montgomery County Prison on $25,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled at District Court 38-3-02 in Red Hill for Aug. 1 at 10 a.m.

        Fire Police from Pennsburg and Hereford were called in to close traffic on Third Street, from State Street to Church Road in Upper Hanover Township, and Blaker Drive, from Third Street to Forge Road, during the incident.

        Police cleared the scene at 5:35 a.m. 

        Upper Perk Police District Detective Matt Boaman offered thanks to “all assisting police departments and to the North Penn Tactical Response Team for helping to bring the situation to a peaceful solution.”