CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police took arrested a man Friday morning after the SWAT unit was called to a hostage situation at an east Charlotte apartment complex.
According to CMPD, officers responded to the Peppertree Apartments in the 4300 block of Central Avenue a little after 3 a.m. in reference to an assault with a deadly weapon and a person possibly being shot. Charlotte Fire and Medic were dispatched to the scene along with CMPD.
Police say that family members inside the home called 911 saying that a relative was inside armed and refused to let them leave. When police arrived, the suspect barricaded himself inside the apartment. SWAT negotiators were able to safely remove the family members without injury, CMPD said.
Authorities say the suspect, identified as Todd Cox, eventually surrendered to police after a lengthy standoff with SWAT agents. Cox was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present. He is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail under $55,000 bond.
As a result of calling in SWAT, CMPD closed Central Avenue between Kilborne Drive and Eastway Drive. The road remained closed until 7:45 a.m., when officials reopened all lanes to traffic.
#BREAKING People who live here say they were told to get out of their apartments & are not being allowed back in @wcnc pic.twitter.com/NKW8CgsK64
— Rachel Rollar (@RachelRollar) November 18, 2016
Residents of the apartments told NBC Charlotte that they were told to get out of their homes and have not been allowed back inside due to a hostage situation. CMPD confirmed those reports just after 7 a.m. Moments later, CMPD says the SWAT unit breached the door of the unit where the suspect was barricaded inside.
#BREAKING Loud sound heard on Central Ave moments ago, CMPD officers tell me SWAT breached the door where person was barricaded @wcnc
— Rachel Rollar (@RachelRollar) November 18, 2016
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed to NBC Charlotte that buses in the area would be rerouted to get their pickups completed. Some students may be delayed getting to school, but they were not be marked absent or tardy due to the traffic conditions.
Please stick with WCNC.com as this story develops.