02/16/2009 1:15 p.m.

Standoff Ends on I84 in Hartford

   On Monday, February 16th 2009 at approximately 9:15 a.m. the State Police were made aware of what appeared to be a disabled motor vehicle in the left lane of I84 westbound in the vicinity of Exit 47 (west of the off ramp) by the Sigourney Street overpass. Within moments the sole occupant of the vehicle was observed with a handgun. The subject contacted the State Police via a cell phone and indicated that he was going to do harm to himself.

   The State Police working with all police agencies in the area began to systemically shut the area down to protect any innocent bystanders and to establish control of the evolving situation at this location. Interstate I84 and all on ramps leading into this area were shut down. With the combined efforts of the State Police, local police agencies and the Department of Transportation traffic was diverted and re-routed away from this region.

   State Police personnel including dispatch and patrol personnel and subsequently State Police Crisis Negotiators maintained communication with the individual throughout the morning.

   At approximately 12:11 p.m. the subject surrendered himself to State Police personnel at the scene. The subject, a 26 year old male from the area, was taken into custody without incident and transported to a local medical facility for a medical evaluation. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

   The highway was re-opened to traffic after the scene could be cleared of deployed personnel and State Police equipment and after the subject’s vehicle was removed from the highway. Due to major diversion of traffic away from the region it is expected to take some time for the traffic flow to return to normal but conditions are expected to be back to normal by this afternoon’s commuter traffic.###end###