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Lawmen aren't the only ones not talking about a "family situation" that occurred Friday at Wheeling's Stonegate development - residents also have been told to be tight-lipped.

At about 5 p.m. Friday, law enforcement officers from the Ohio County Sheriff's Department and the West Virginia State Police responded to a call at the neighborhood, blocking access to half the development and telling people to stay in their homes or vehicles.

State troopers at the scene declined to disclose what was happening. Some neighbors speculated that a man had barricaded himself in his home and refused to exit. The State Police also had a special incident vehicle at the scene, as did the sheriff's department.

As of Tuesday evening, law enforcement officials have refused to publicly comment on what caused 13 cruisers to respond to the neighborhood and remain there into Saturday morning. A Triadelphia Volunteer Fire Department truck also arrived in the area at about 9:30 p.m.

On Tuesday afternoon, some residents of the Stonegate neighborhood identified the subject of the situation as a federal law enforcement agent. One couple noted they weren't home at the time it happened, but were told later by neighbors that local law enforcement officers were telling residents not to talk publicly about what happened.

Ohio County Sheriff Pat Butler on Friday night described what occurred there as a "family situation." He said Tuesday the case is under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia State Police.

"I cannot comment on another agency's case," Butler said, even though his deputies were at the scene.

A West Virginia State trooper in Wheeling said State Police headquarters in Charleston has been notified about media inquiries, and no information was being released at this time from the Wheeling detachment.

Calls to State Police headquarters in Charleston were not returned Tuesday.

The neighborhood, located off Boggs Hill Road, contains about 20 new, large brick homes.