BLOOMINGTON — Bloomington and Indiana University police have taken a man into custody who allegedly entered the city's sewer system armed with a gun.
The incident started when Bloomington Police Department officers were called to Seminary Park around 9:30 a.m. on the report of a man swinging a steel rod, according to a press release from Bloomington police. While they were responding, they got a report the man went to a nearby parking lot to get a hatchet.
The man, later identified as a 37-year-old, then walked towards people in the park and threw a hatchet at them before walking south on First Street, according to the release. Officers later determined the man entered a storm drain.
This led to an hours-long standoff involving SWAT teams and several emergency alerts from Indiana University.
As the investigation continued, Bloomington police said the man told officers and he would shoot them if he entered the storm drain, according to the release.
He was eventually arrested on several preliminary charges, according to the release. Formal charges haven't been filed. He also had an outstanding warrant out of Daviess County for battery against a public safety official.
Bloomington police say there were no shots fired and he only had an empty handgun holster, according to the release. No firearms were located in the sewer system, but officers will continue searching to locate any possible firearms.
IUPD also urged people to disregard false reports of an active shooter on campus. The suspect is barricaded in the storm system and is not on campus.
WRTV Senior Digital Content Producer Andrew Smith contributed to this report.
-
Plans for former car factory and jail could revitalize Market Street
The former Cole Motor Company and Marion County Jail II will transform into loft-style housing with shops on the ground floor.
Proposed bill could put an age limit on social media access for Hoosier youth
If Senate Bill 11 is passed, kids under the age of 16 would need verifiable parental permission to access social media platforms.
2 shot, killed on Indy’s east side
Two people were shot and killed on the east side of Indianapolis on Wednesday afternoon. IMPD says they initially responded to the scene for a welfare check of a person.
Expert tips on how to protect homes from frozen pipes this winter
As temperatures stay low, hopefully, you’re keeping your home and pipes protected. An expert showed WRTV what you can do to make sure your home is prepared.
