BALTIMORE (WJZ)—A Baltimore County faces a string of charges after threatening police with a homemade blowtorch. The incident forced some elderly people from their homes and left one officer with minor burns.

Adam May has the story.

There was chaos inside the Kirkwood House Senior Apartments on Loch Raven Boulevard on Friday night at around 8:30 p.m.

Police responding to an attempted burglary say 45-year-old Sean Lee pulled out an aerosol can– spraying fire at a police officer.

“I was looking out my back window and I saw a whole bunch of police on the street,” said Briana Angel, neighbor.

Swat teams were called to the scene after Lee barricaded himself inside an apartment.

The flame thrower set off fire sprinklers, forcing residents to evacuate. Fire fighters had to carry some down the stairs.

“The most you get over here is an ambulance for the old folks once a day, but this is crazy,” said Benjamin Angel, neighbor.

Lee surrendered after about three hours.

He faces charges of assault, assaulting an officer, destruction of property and arson.

It’s unclear what triggered the unusual confrontation.

Another police officer suffered minor injuries during a car accident while responding to the scene.