TAYLOR, Mich. (WWJ) -- A Detroit man is in police custody after a standoff at an apartment complex in Taylor.
Detroit police officers went to the Heritage Glen Apartments in the area of Wick and Pelham around 5:40 p.m. to execute a search and arrest warrant for a man wanted in connection with a homicide in Detroit. A Detroit Police Department spokesman said due to the presence of other residents in the apartment complex, rather than conducting a traditional raid, officers from the Detroit and Taylor police departments and the DPD and Downriver SWAT teams surrounded the building and asked the man to surrender via megaphone.
Several women came out of the building and surrendered to police, telling them the suspect was inside with a gun.
Authorities continued to attempt to negotiate with the suspect via telephone and megaphone, but he never answered or responded.
Around 7:30 p.m. the SWAT teams breached the door of the apartment and deployed a chemical agent in an attempt to get the man out of the building. Around 10 minutes later, authorities could see the man standing in the doorway of the apartment and attempted to negotiate with him, but he went back inside and shut the door. About 10 minutes later flames burst out and began to spread rapidly, authorities said.
The suspect then ran out the back of the building and surrendered, unharmed. No injuries were reported.
Detroit police did not specify the details of the murder the suspect was wanted for.
Arson investigators are working to determine what caused the flames to erupt and spread so rapidly. The spokesperson said they believe the suspect may have used an accelerant that caused the fire.