GRPD: Standoff suspect held mom captive

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A northeast-side standoff is over after police took a man into custody who is suspected of holding his mother captive for more than a week.

Police said the man was holed up in a bedroom at an apartment building on Stonebrook Drive NE. Authorities thought he may have had a gun.

The man held his mother captive in the apartment for about 10 days, 24 Hour News 8 was told.

"She'd been held against her will for the last 10 days in her apartment by her 33-year-old son," said GRPD Chief Kevin Belk. "She's been assaulted several times. She has bruises, things like that."

She was left locked in a room for most of those 10 days.

"For about 23 hours a day, she was forced to stay in a locked room," Belk said.

Tuesday morning, she tricked her son into freeing her.

"She was able to convince him she was having medical problems and that she needed to go for medical treatment," Belk said.

Then, police say, she called 911.

Police arrived on scene about 4 p.m.

"A bunch of cops just showed up," said witness Kyle Newsome.

The man barricaded himself in the apartment he shared with his mother.

There was a heavy police presence on the scene, including at least 25 squad cars, SWAT, several captains and lieutenants, and the chief. 

Police asked people to stay away from the apartment and residents were moved to a safe area.

After a surge of police activity, he surrendered. Police said he has a history of mental illness.

The as-yet unnamed suspect will likely face domestic violence and unlawful imprisonment charges, police said.

There were shots fired earlier after a resident's dog got in officers' way. That dog was quickly removed from the scene by its owner and was not hurt.

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24 Hour News 8's Steve Kelso contributed to this report.