Police locate man who caused evacuation at Coleman A. Young building

Building evacuated, closed for rest of day after man spotted with gun in bag

DETROIT – Detroit police have identified and located a man who was believed to have had a handgun inside the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Monday, forcing an evacuation.

Police said officers met with the suspect, whose identity has not been released to the public. The man then met with his attorneys and provided a statement before being interviewed.

Police announced an "all-clear" at the building Monday afternoon. The municipal center remained closed for the rest of Monday. It will be back open to the public on Tuesday. 

What happened

The building in downtown Detroit was evacuated Monday morning after the weapon was seen on a security scan after the man entered on the county side, but the man wasn't immediately stopped. 

"There was a failure of communication in a timely manner," Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. "The suspect had already passed through a checkpoint, got on an elevator and we're not certain where he is. It was in a bag and it went through the security checkpoint, and the image came up after."

The only description of the man given by Craig was that he was white, about 6 feet tall and was wearing a dark-colored suit.

Police released a photo of the man and the scanned image of his bag, which appeared to have a revolver inside. Craig stressed that the man is a person of interest, someone they want to investigate further, not a suspect.

Craig said City Council members and judges are safely out of the building. The rest is being swept floor by floor, with some people being kept in their offices. 

Craig said there is "a possibility" that the man is no longer in the building, which has been closed to the public for the rest of the day. 

'No threat, no active shooter'

Craig said the evacuation was not for an active shooter situation -- and no one was threatened.

Visitors are required to go through a security checkpoint in the building, and weapons of any kind are not allowed. Craig said it's just like going through security at an airport. A person is supposed to be stopped if something in his or her bag appears to be a weapon. 

Craig said more than 100 sworn officers were on the scene. 

The center -- which houses a court and several government offices -- is located at 2 Woodward Avenue. It's now closed Monday and will reopen on Tuesday. 

 

Situation is chance to review security in building

Craig said the situation has brought to light some security changes that need to be made in the building. Craig said he learned that some people are allowed to pass around security because they are known by the security officers. 

"That's going to change immediately," Craig said.

Private security managed the lobby of the building. The Sheriff's Office handles security of some of the other floors.