Utah I-15 standoff ends after 9 hours

A 9-hour standoff that prompted a school lockdown in southeastern Utah ended peacefully when an armed man released two children to authorities and surrendered.

UTAH (Associated Press) February 7, 2012 -- Utah I-15 standoff ends after 9 hours. A 9-hour standoff that shut down Interstate 15 (I-15) and prompted a school lockdown in southeastern Utah ended peacefully February 6 when an armed man released two children to authorities and surrendered.

The man fled from LaVerkin police at about 11 a.m., when authorities said an officer tried to stop him for a traffic violation near the Toquerville cemetery, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

A chase went through Hurricane and then north on I-15, crossing into the southbound lanes. Troopers used a spike strip to deflate the car’s tires, forcing it to stop near State Road 9 in Washington County.

The driver had a handgun and two children in the car, a sheriff’s detective said.

All three stayed in the vehicle through about 8 hours of negotiations, he said. An 11-mile stretch of I-15 was shut down in both directions, and traffic was rerouted.

Coral Canyon Elementary School in Washington City was locked down. Negotiations continued until about 8 p.m., when the driver surrendered.

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/07/20120207utah-standoff-ends-after-hours.html

Source: DHS Daily Report, February 8, 2012