ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The SWAT team has removed the knife-wielding man from an Allen Park gas station after a five-hour standoff.
The incident occurred on Friday (May 30) at 4:30 p.m. when witnesses said the man allegedly entered the gas station holding the knife while running from the police.
The man allowed the employees to leave, and he was alone inside the gas station, which was hit with a flashbang by the police after he was taken into custody.
The flashbang was set off in 15-minute increments, with the second one going off as he was being taken away from the store.
Prior to his arrest, the man had entered the gas station in distress as he was allegedly seen by witnesses evading either the police or someone else.
While in distress, the man, according to witnesses, let customers out of the gas station, including the clerk, before initiating the standoff inside the Marathon gas station on Allen Road and Southfield Road.
Officials from Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Southgate, and Michigan State Police arrived on the scene and started negotiating with the man who was held up inside with the knife.
Reports indicated that the man demanded to speak with his mother as the scene unfolded.
Traffic along Southfield Road, between Allen Road and Fox Avenue, was shut down as authorities managed the situation.
Many onlookers gathered, trying to make sense of what was happening. He did not have any hostages as he barricaded himself inside.
Local 4 was told that around 9:30 p.m., officials broke the glass surrounding the door and threw a flashbang inside before taking the man out of the gas station and arresting him.
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