I-15 shut down N/St. George, UT

Due to a LE situation, I-15 is shut down from exit 16 to exit 27. Detour is on Utah State Routes 17 and 9 through Hurricane, La Verkin and Toquerville. Part of this is a two lane road.

Apparently there is a nutcase holding a couple of kids at gunpoint in a car along I-15. This followed a lengthy, (if low speed) pursuit that started about two hours ago.

 

http://www.thespectrum.com/article/...tinues-15?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|Frontpage

ST. GEORGE - With nightfall approaching, the standoff between police and an
armed man with children has yet to be resolved on Interstate 15 in Washington County.
The incident, which began with a car chase in LaVerkin at about 11 a.m. and
came to a standstill on I-15 near mile marker 17 outside of Hurricane, has
closed down an 11-mile stretch of the interstate and Coral Canyon Elementary
School in Washington City.
SWAT team personnel and officers from several local law enforcement agencies
are continuing to negotiate with the suspect, who reportedly has a 7-year-old and teenager in his custody. According to UHP troopers, a third child
was reportedly with the man earlier, but has not been accounted for.

There are significant traffic delays near Hurricane on both northbound and southbound lanes. Utah Highway Patrol troopers have closed interstate onramps from mile marker 16 to mile marker 27 and are directing motorists to a detour through Hurricane to avoid that stretch of the interstate.

The situation began at 11 a.m. in LaVerkin when a LaVerkin police officer attempted to stop the man for a routine traffic violation. A car chase then ensued through Hurricane, and onto northbound I-15, resulting in one of the man¹s tires being punctured by road spikes laid down by officers.

After losing that tire on I-15, the man darted his vehicle into the southbound lane. Officers laid spikes in the southbound lane, deflating the man¹s remaining tires.
At about 12:30 p.m., the man stopped on I-15 near mile marker 17, the site where
officers are still in negotiations with him.

Coral Canyon Elementary School in Washington City was put on lockdown due to its proximity to the incident, however students were allowed to leave at the regular dismissal time.

According to UHP troopers, officers contacted the man¹s father who told them
the man suffered from mental health issues. While troopers confirmed the man¹s vehicle had out-of-state license plates, they said additional information about the man wouldn¹t likely be known until the situation has been resolved.

Please check back later for updates as they become available.

 

Guess this came to a peaceful conclusion about 2000 last night. The guy is in custody, the kids released unharmed, all the cops went home at the end of their shift, and the road is now open.

http://www.thespectrum.com/article/...r-standoff?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

 

According to scanner traffic, he has a history of mental problems, and was afraid his ex wife was going to take his kids away from him. What a good way to make sure she has all the ammunition she needs to do so. . .