Police: reports of hostage situation with gun in south Columbia a false alarm

UPDATE 6:30 pm: Police say reports of a hostage situation with a gun in south Columbia were a false alarm.

A female caller apparently stated she was being held hostage at gunpoint by an intimate partner. Apparently the caller also provided an address that wasn’t valid.

Police say the scene is now all clear and say officers did not find any evidence of a hostage or a gun.

The call came in around 11:45 this morning and for two and a half hours, police evacuated three apartment buildings on Apple Tree Court off Southampton Drive.

A total of 33 sworn officers were on scene including the SWAT and Crisis Negotiation teams, detectives with the criminal investigations division and the K-9 unit.

“We must take all reported incidents of this nature seriously,” said Deputy Chief John Gordon. “We will use every resource feasible for precautionary measures and to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

The investigation into who made the call and why is still ongoing.

UPDATE 1:27pm: Police confirm they responded to reports of a hostage situation with a gun Thursday afternoon.

They say they have the intersection of Apple Tree Court and Bethel Street blocked off right now.

A man who lives on Apple Tree Court called ABC 17 News and reported seeing police surrounding a building with guns drawn. He tells ABC 17 News police have not talked to him about staying inside.

ORIGINAL: ABC 17 News is working to find out why a large number of Columbia police are on the scene in south Columbia.

A viewer sent us pictures of more than one dozen police vehicles on Apple Tree Court near Bethel Street and Rock Bridge High School. Police are asking people to avoid the area.

ABC 17 News crews first saw a SWAT team and police vehicles with lights driving on Nifong Boulevard around 12:20 Thursday afternoon.

Our ABC 17 News crews are on to the scene.

This is a developing story and ABC 17 News will update this story as we confirm more details.