SWAT team takes man from South Hill home, but police don’t say why

A SWAT team escorted several women from a South Hill home before leading a man out in handcuffs Tuesday afternoon, but authorities refused to say what crimes may have brought them there.

Dozens of police vehicles lined the streets, and officers armed with assault rifles surrounded the residence at 708 S. Maple St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Neighbors were told to stay inside and avoid the “line of fire” during the standoff, which began shortly before 1 p.m.

After about 45 minutes, Spokane police said they had a person in custody. A man in a light-colored T-shirt was seen walking out the front door in handcuffs, accompanied by officers in tactical gear. Two women were waiting to be interviewed by police in a staging area behind the residence.

Officer Shane Phillips said he couldn’t confirm if the man was armed. Police initially believed there was potential for a hostage situation, Phillips said, “but it quickly de-escalated and everybody went home.”

Phillips, a police department spokesman, declined to say what prompted the response, citing an ongoing investigation. A Spokane police detective asked a judge to temporarily seal a search warrant from public view on Tuesday, a request that the judge granted. But it’s not clear if that warrant was related to the standoff.

Several neighbors said they didn’t know who lived in the residence. Attempts to reach the homeowner were unsuccessful Tuesday afternoon.