Armed man in standoff releases woman, child

An armed man remained holed up at a north Spokane motel Tuesday night after releasing a woman and her 6-year-old daughter he had been holding hostage.

The man had at least one handgun and fired a round through his door at the Ramada Inn, 9601 N. Newport Highway.

The standoff began about 8 a.m. when a motel employee asked the occupants to leave.

The man responded by threatening to kill the woman and any officers who responded, the employee told police.

According to police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee, the man and woman are in their mid- to late 20s. Officers declined to identify the gunman or his hostages. The man, who was believed to be high on methamphetamine, is wanted on Montana felony warrants.