Police sealed off a downtown Denver block Wednesday morning before using SWAT officers, a battering ram and a remote-controlled robot to bring a barricaded suspect into custody.
Around 10:40 a.m., police pushed through the front door of the building at 2250 Lawrence St. with the battering ram and then sent in a remote-controlled camera, mounted on a small, low-profile frame driven by two tracks
Just before 11 a.m. several officers went in the building. They brought out a man, wearing a dark shirt and white pants, who they put on the ground and handcuffed.
Denver Police Det. John White said an auto theft task force investigation had led officers to the scene, where at least one suspect holed up and wouldn’t come out.
Prior to the capture, officers used a bullhorn in an attempt to communicate with the suspect, telling him to come out of the one-story building, around the corner from the Denver Rescue Mission.
Officers were on scene since before 5 a.m. and they were joined by SWAT members in full gear with rifles. The Denver Police Department incident command vehicle was parked in a lot at the end of the block and numerous patrol cars and police motorcycle officers assisted the undertaking.
During the standoff, Lawrence Street was shut down between 22nd Street and Park Avenue West in downtown Denver. The alley between Lawrence and Arapahoe streets was also cordoned off.
The Denver Rescue Mission was evacuated as a precaution and dozens of mission clients cheered as the man was taken into custody.
SWAT members checked and cleared the building after the suspect was taken out. A Denver Fire Department truck pulled up in front and a ladder was used to allow two SWAT members access to the roof. The pair were on the roof for about 10 minutes before climbing back.
The suspect, who was not immediately identified, is in custody and is being questioned by investigators.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or
