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 A standoff between police and a distraught man at a residence in Golden Beach ended peacefully this afternoon when the man surrendered.

 Police were called to a Golden Beach home late this morning for a domestic assault complaint, St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron told The Bay Net.

 The suspect reportedly got into an argument with his mother and fled the scene to his grandmother’s house before police arrived.

 Officers responded to the house on Pocahontas Drive, set up a perimeter and called in a crisis negotiator.

 Sheriff Cameron said the man’s family members were very helpful in diffusing the situation, and shortly more than an hour later the man crawled out from under the rear porch and surrendered.

 Cameron said officers took the man to St. Mary’s Hospital for an evaluation after police filed an “emergency medical petition” due to his mental state.

 Officers were unaware during the standoff if the suspect was in the house or outside.

 “We were never sure if he was inside or outside,” Cameron said. The man was outside long enough that officers were concerned about over-exposure to the cold.

 There was a report of a shot fired during the standoff, but apparently the report was unfounded.

 “That’s a good question,” Cameron said. “We were unable to determine the origin of the shot, or even what it was.”

 Officers searched the house, property and surrounding area, and no firearms were found, Cameron said.

 “Once we established dialogue with him, it didn’t take too long for him to come out,” Cameron said.

 The man possessed a cell phone, so police contacted the provider to commandeer the line. All outgoing calls went to police, who also controlled the incoming calls, Cameron said.

 “These things have a very volatile potential,” Cameron said. “This turned out excellent, we great cooperation with the family.”

Police had roads blocked off near the scene, including a portion of Golden Beach Road. See slideshow below for pictures from the perimeter. Photos for The Bay Net by Frank Marquart.