
By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police are asking for information from the public to help authorities determine what may have led to a hostage situation that ended peacefully early Sunday evening on the city’s west side.
The standoff lasted more than five hours in a home at 1414 W. Locust St. A man police identified as Cody Powell was taken into custody, and his young son who was with him was unharmed.
Police say they received a call about 11:40 Sunday morning of a man threatening people in the area. He then barricaded himself inside the home. Police say officers from the Crisis Negotiation Unit and SWAT Team were able to bring what the department described as a “complex situation” to a peaceful conclusion to just after 5 p.m. Sunday.
Police say the man was transported for a medical evaluation.
The McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office was reviewing the case Monday to determine whether criminal charges would be filed against Powell.
Bloomington Police said in a news release they were aided at the scene by the McLean County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, and the Bloomington Fire Department.
Police say they are seeking no other suspects.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Bloomington Police Detective John Heinlen at 309-434-2672 or the police department’s dispatch at 309-820-8888.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]