GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After an hourslong standoff, police were unable to find a suspect inside a house in Grand Rapids Wednesday.
It happened at a house in the 100 block of Dale Street between Monroe and Center avenues on the city’s northeast side.
Grand Rapids police said a witness called authorities around 12:30 a.m. after she saw a 27-year-old man threaten a 33-year-old woman with a handgun inside the house. Police said both had warrants for their arrest.
Negotiators attempted to make contact with the residence throughout the morning, but were unsuccessful. Because of this, officers were unsure if the lack of cooperation was due to the warrants or if the woman was being held against her will.
Shortly after 7 a.m., officers cleared the house and found the woman hiding inside. She was taken into custody for her outstanding warrants. The suspect, who police identified as the woman's boyfriend, was not found inside the house.
Grand Rapids police believe he fled sometime after 911 was called and before officers got on scene. A description of the suspect has not yet been released.
The witness had left the home with three of the woman’s young children earlier in the morning, but the woman’s 13-year-old daughter was left inside. Police convinced her to come out of the home upon arrival.
Police said a distractionary device, which sounds like a loud boom, was used during the standoff to allow officers to safely put negotiation equipment into the house.