BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Bloomington Police have closed off several busy roads and a SWAT team is moving in on an apartment building as a standoff situation unfolds in a heavily populated part of the city.
Bloomington Assistant Chief Rick Hart says 90th Street is closed between 1st and Blaisedale, and Nicollet Avenue is closed between 88th and 92nd streets.
The standoff began shortly after 4 a.m. after a resident walked by a home on the 8900 block of Nicollet Avenue South that was believed empty as it had been condemned. As that person passed by someone from inside the home shined a laser light at them and issued a threat.
Police responded to the home but the individuals inside did not answer the door.
Around 8 a.m. police officers on the scene deployed tear gas inside the home and one man was seen running out. He disappeared inside a nearby apartment, and police relocated their perimeter there.
Around 11 a.m. police fired tear gas canisters into the apartment, and then sent a camera carrying robot in to locate the suspect.
At this time there is no word on if he is still inside.
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