Matthew Barton (Gwinnett County Police Department)
LAWRENCEVILLE -- Gwinnett County Police have arrested a man they say caused a SWAT situation at a Shell gas station in Lawrenceville.
The intersection of Highway 20 and Russell Road was completely blocked until about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Ed Ritter, a man, Matthew Barton, who is now in police custody claimed there were explosives in the car after he was approached by police. He also allegedly threatened officers with a gun.
Ritter said officers approached the man after a good Samaritan reported hearing a woman yell for help from inside the car. Barton was accused of battering the woman, before letting her go and eventually surrendering to police.
According to GCPD, Barton is being charges with 2 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of obstruction of a law enforcement officer (one misdemeanor and one felony), 1 count of battery, 1 count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and 1 count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
He is currently in custody at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.