ROYAL KUNIA — A Schofield Barracks soldier recently back from Iraq was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation yesterday after an 18-hour standoff with police.

Sgt. Jesse Kerry, 23, walked out of his townhouse yesterday at 10:40 a.m. wearing shorts but no shirt or shoes. He held a cell phone as he surrendered to about a dozen police officers waiting outside the door.

Police found two handguns inside, Honolulu police spokesman Alan Bluemke said. Only one was registered.

"As of now he's not facing any criminal charges except for the unregistered gun," Bluemke said. "He's being evaluated at Tripler."

Kerry served in Afghanistan in 2004-05 and in Iraq during 2006-07, until returning home in October, Schofield officials said. He is married with a son.

When he surrendered yesterday, he had cuts on both wrists and blood was visible on his left forearm as he walked toward police. EMS spokesman Bryan Cheplic said his wounds were treated before police took him away.

The standoff started at 4:30 p.m. Monday after a friend called police to say Kerry had left some friends and was armed and suicidal.

"It's my understanding the situation started in another area and ended up at the residence," Bluemke said. "Our officers talked to him through the door and he said he was armed and suicidal."

Police evacuated people from nearby homes.

IN THE LINE OF FIRE

One group of residents watching the standoff yesterday from across 'Anonui Street said they were in the pool when police told them they were in the line of fire and had to leave.

Some residents spent the night at friends' homes, and others went to a Red Cross shelter that opened before midnight.

Police officers, including SWAT and K-9 units, surrounded unit 20 of The Villas of Royal Kunia throughout the night and morning, Bluemke said.

"We had two negotiators talking to him from yesterday through the morning," he said. "The second negotiator was able to develop a rapport with him and the incident was able to end peacefully."

BUDDIES AT HIS SIDE

Upon Kerry's surrender, two friends, one in military fatigues and the other in shorts and a brown shirt, came to his side. Other friends soon followed.

Though all declined comment on the incident, one called Kerry "a great guy who's had some bad breaks."

Several neighbors watching the standoff characterized Kerry as a nice, normal guy who loved to barbecue in front of his home nearly every day with friends.

They also said that about two weeks ago, police came to the residence and escorted away his wife after a domestic dispute. They said the woman left for the Mainland within the past week with their son.

Bluemke said they are investigating reports of the domestic dispute.

On his myspace.com page, which shows he last logged in on Sunday, Kerry lists himself as "single" and a "proud parent." He has the quote "See you on the other side" at the top of the page and below he says he is a 2002 graduate of Beulah High School in Valley, Ala.