(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)

Aliquippa police responded to a 911 call Monday morning, to a home on Irwin Street when 39-year-old Raphael Johnson locked his girlfriend out of the house and wouldn’t let her back in. Aliquippa police responded to the scene, and the county’s ESU was called in when Johnson wouldn’t leave the residence.  

Aliquippa High School and Aliquippa Elementary School were placed on lockdown, according to a district spokesperson.

DA David J. Lozier said tear gas and a battering ram were used, but Johnson didn’t budge. It wasn’t until the use of a robot, along with a phone call asking him to leave, that Johnson was peacefully and successfully evacuated from the home and into police custody.

Lozier said Johnson was evaluated by medical personnel and had to be decontaminated from the tear gas, before being taken to the Beaver County Jail.