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Incident draws many LEOs to Clay County hotel standoff
Friday morning update:
The standoff continues. Law enforcement officers now believed to be using "flashbang" devices in order to end the situation.
Original story:
Officials are working to resolve a local hostage situation involving weapons peacefully at the Best Western Plus Inn.
According to Indiana State Police Public Information Officer for the Putnamville Post Trooper Matt Ames, the incident began shortly after 10 a.m., Thursday.
When the US Marshals Office, with the local Clay County Sheriff Department's assistance, attempted to serve an arrest warrant on an unidentified suspect located at the hotel, 3882 North State Road 59, near the intersection US 42 and State Road 59.
A handgun was allegedly pointed at the officers, who backed away from the room to prevent further hostility, as the suspect kept two hostages - an unidentified female and a juvenile - in the room.
Terre Haute Police Department confirmed their involvement, with detectives assigned to the Vigo County Drug Task Force also on the scene. Apparently, after announcing their presence, THPD officials confirm a shot was fired from inside the hotel room through the door.
However, people staying at a motel next door reported they heard what sounded like multiple gunshots during the initial incident.
Officers initiated a safety perimeter with the employees and people staying at the hotel safely removed.
Due to the suspect's actions, the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Conservation, Vigo County Sheriff's Office, and THPD Special Response Team (SRT) also responded to the scene.
Only law enforcement officials were inside the inn during negotiations by SRT to resolve the situation peacefully with the suspect.
Officials closed a portion of State Road 59 as a safety precaution, which backed up northbound traffic during the incident. Local motorists were urged to find alternate routes around the area.
Around 1 p.m., Trooper Ames confirmed one hostage had been released, with the second one reported released a short while later.
No injuries have been reported, but STAR Ambulance is on stand by at the scene just in case.
Negotiations continue at this time to attempt to resolve the situation peacefully.
The Brazil Times will update this story when official information is made available. As of 9 p.m. Thursday, the situation had not yet been resolved.