New Town Standoff | Video

Julie Leonardi | 12/19/2012

Police and a SWAT team were called out for a hostage situation in New Town. A man barricaded himself inside a home after taking three people hostage just after midnight Wednesday. The hostages were released a short time later.

Emergency crews were all lining the streets outside the home on Ninth Street since 5:00 Wednesday morning. Minot SWAT team, along with two negotiators, came on the scene as well.

The suspect refused to surrender to police. New Town Middle and High School received a call from the sheriff early Wednesday morning explaining the situation. They were in lockdown all day and received hourly updates from the police. Children were not allowed outside the building and the bus routes on Ninth Street were closed.

“This situation happens to be about three blocks north of the high school we felt in the best interest of the school that the risk assessment was low. So we felt that we could have school, but just to be on the safe side we wanted to be under lockdown and our safety protocol was in the best interest. The safety of our kids is important, and I felt that if I could not guarantee safety of staff and kids, we wouldn`t have held school today,” said New Town Public Schools superintendant Marc Bluestone.

New Town resident Misty Houle said, “It`s pretty scary; it`s really too close to home. We used to feel so safe here and now we don`t know.”

New Town public schools will be on lockdown tomorrow until further notice.

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