UPDATE: SUSPECT IN GRADUATE HOTEL STANDOFF IS IN CUSTODY, POLICE SAY (TUESDAY, 1:43 p.m.)
Roads and buildings on East Bank campus remain closed Monday morning as police negotiate with at least one individual inside the Graduate Hotel.
Text and voice messages sent to University students and faculty just before 6 a.m. said the Recreation and Wellness Center and Washington Avenue Parking Ramp were closed because of a “public safety situation.” In a press conference around 8 a.m., University Police Chief Matt Clark said access to the East Bank campus will likely be limited for much of Monday morning.
“When we arrived, we met an individual in a hotel room with two other individuals,“ Clark said. “We’ve been talking to that individual and asking them to come out for some time now.”
Officers have been on the scene since around midnight, adding there would be more information once a resolution was reached with the individual inside, Minneapolis Police spokesperson Scott Seroka said.
While the rear portion of the Graduate Hotel was completely blocked off by police units, police tape lay broken at the front of the building and guests entered and exited the building freely.
Some guests at the hotel claim they weren’t alerted of any safety concerns. Clark said police did what they could to notify guests, but some were surprised as they woke up to police presence without seeing news reports.
Both University of Minnesota and Minneapolis Police were present at the scene Monday.
Despite reports from WCCO, neither Clark nor Seroka could confirm whether any of the individuals involved were armed.
A series of text and voice messages alerted students and faculty to the situation before 6 a.m.
The campus-wide notice read: “SAFE-U Alert – Public Safety Incident at Graduate Hotel East Bank roads near Graduate Hotel are closed due to public safety situation in hotel. Rec and Wellness Center closed & Washington Avenue Ramp inaccessible to vehicles. Please avoid these areas. Check umn.edu for updates.”
Multiple tweets from Metro Transit confirmed that East Bank Green Line trains were running as normal despite the road and building closures.
This is a breaking news report. More information will be added as it becomes available.
