DeKalb County SWAT ends peacefully after closing down neighborhood near Stone Mountain

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - The man who was at the center of a nearly five-hour-long SWAT standoff surrendered peacefully around 11 p.m. Monday. 

DeKalb County police, the SWAT team, a bomb squad and multiple other law enforcement agencies swarmed a neighborhood near Stone Mountain. 

FOX 5 Atlanta noticed the developing fleet of DeKalb County police vehicles near Memorial Drive and West Mountain Street. 

Neighbors and witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots before police came swarming. 

DeKalb County police confirmed they were called to investigate a suspect who was experiencing a mental health crisis at around 6:30 p.m. When they got to the scene, officers said they heard what sounded like gunfire from inside the house. 

While police confirmed officers did not open fire during the incident and no officers were hurt, a Mobile Crisis Unit officer said he later discovered a "defect" in his duty belt. 

Police say, as the SWAT team was about to breach the home, the 28-year-old man came out and surrendered. He was taken into custody without further incident. A search of the home led investigators to find six firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition, officials said.

Residents were asked to stay inside, and motorists were asked to avoid the area during the standoff. Those restrictions have since ended. 

Officers identified the suspect as Zachary Benjamin. He's charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer.

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