Police close off east Columbia neighborhood

UPDATE: 5:15 a.m.: An early morning police presence in east Columbia was prompted by a suspicious vehicle that did not stop for law enforcement.

According to CPD, around 2:30 a.m., officers attempted to stop what they called a suspicious vehicle.

The car fled from police, eventually crashing in a yard.

Police said four people got out of the car and ran. Officers were able to detain two of them.

Officers say they found guns in the car, prompting the heavy response to find the remaining suspects.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office helped with the search and used their K-9s to try to find the remaining two suspects.

Columbia officers told ABC 17 News nearly every officer on duty was called in to help with this search. The officer said Wednesday nights into Thursday mornings, the department has the highest number of officers on duty, which benefited them during this search.

The perimeter was collapsed shortly before 5 a.m.

ORIGINAL: The Columbia Police Department have blocked off an area of a neighborhood on the east side of the city.

Officers formed a perimeter Thursday morning near Grace Lane, St. Charles Road and Richland Road.

ABC 17 News crews that arrived on the scene were told by officers to remain outside the perimeter “for your own safety.”

Reporters will remain on scene and continue to monitor the situation as it develops and this article will be updated with new information throughout the morning.