East GR standoff ends, suspect arrested

EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A five-hour standoff in East Grand Rapids has ended with the suspect being taken into custody.

It began around 5:23 a.m. Monday in the 1500 block of Breton Road SE when police received a call about the suicidal man who had barricaded himself in a home.

Several police cars were in the parking lot of nearby Breton Downs Elementary School, 2500 Boston St. SE, where a command post was set up. The school has been closed for the day, after earlier issuing a two-hour delay to the start of classes.

Neighbors in surrounding homes were evacuated as a precaution.

The suspect had firearms in his home, police told 24 Hour News 8.

Authorities had difficulty making contact with the suspect who had been unresponsive to their communication demands prior to his arrest.

Members of the Grand Rapids Police Department Special Response Team entered the residence and immediately took the suspect into custody without incident, according to a news release.

He was then transported to a mental health facility for evaluation.

The East Grand Rapids Department of Public Safety, Grand Rapids Police Department, East Grand Rapids Public Schools and AMR Ambulance assisted during the investigation.