Kent Police took a 17-year-old boy into custody without incident after a one-hour standoff Monday afternoon at an apartment at the southwest corner of West Willis Street and Fourth Avenue.
Police responded to a 911 call at about 1:50 p.m. from a neighbor, who reported seeing a male brandishing a small handgun in an apartment courtyard. The incident reportedly began after an argument between several neighbors outside of the eight-unit complex, said Paul Petersen, spokesman for the Kent Police.
Officers surrounded the apartment the teen then had entered with his mother. At about 3 p.m., the mother walked out of the apartment, followed by her son with his hands in the air. Before the teen came out, officers knocked on the outside walls of the apartment unit and pleaded for the boy to come out.
Police searched the apartment, but did not find a gun, Petersen said.
The mother and her son each told police that he never had a gun.
Paramedics treated a 4-year-old child for minor injuries at the scene, Petersen said.The teen allegedly kicked a door that struck the child.
“We’re still interviewing witnesses to try to determine what really happened and what caused the argument,” Petersen said.
Police blocked off one block of Fourth Avenue, just south of Willis Street, during the incident. Officers also evacuated the other seven units at the complex.
Several neighborhood residents watched as officers surrounded the apartment and waited for the teen to come out.
Officers continued Monday to investigate the incident for alleged assault, threats, vandalism and disorderly conduct.
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