Standoff at IU Memorial Union ends, suspect in custody

Police say a suspect has barricaded himself inside a hotel room at the Indiana Memorial Union.
*(Brock E.W. Turner)*

Indiana University police announced just before 2 a.m. that an hours-long standoff at the Indiana Memorial Union ended without injury and with one person in custody. Police were still investigating into the early morning hours at the Union building. That’s where they say a man barricaded himself inside a hotel room late last night, leading to the standoff.

University officials identified the arrested man as Cecil L. Gilbert. No weapons were discovered in the room, despite earlier reports the man was armed.

Officials say the incident began with a call to IU police about a person making threats from a room on the first floor of the Biddle Hotel, which is inside the IMU. They said the room was not registered to a guest and that the man refused to come out.

Police soon surrounded the building and warned the public to stay away. They also evacuated guests from the hotel as the standoff continued.

Inside, an IU spokesperson said police secured the first floor hallway and called critical incident response officers and negotiators to the scene. The official said the police eventually resorted to unspecified “non-lethal techniques” to gain entry.

A WFIU reporter heard alarms and smelled tear gas shortly after the arrest. Police officers were also coughing as they departed the building.

Tear gas could be smelled in the air and fire alarms were flashing as police in tactical gear returned to their patrol cars.

Here’s video as responders depart the scene tonight at the Indiana Memorial Union where a man barricaded himself in a hotel room for around 5 hrs. pic.twitter.com/sIRS0BvpcN
— Brock E.W. Turner (@BrockEWTurner) January 4, 2022

Live Updates

2:15 am final update:

This situation has been resolved. Tear gas can be smelled around the hotel and there are fire alarms going off on multiple guest floors. Police officers in tactical gear were coughing as they put gear away.

A tweet from IUPD indicates the situation ended without injury and the subject is now in police custody. Police remain on the scene to complete the investigation.j

1:30 am update:

Bloomington PD’s BearCat is on the scene along with other tactical teams. There’s still a large police presence here.

Bloomington Fire is staging on Kirkwood Ave. I just noticed two police cruisers driving through the Sample Gates. pic.twitter.com/vhlvBweArD
— Brock E.W. Turner (@BrockEWTurner) January 4, 2022

11:30 pm update:

An IU Spokesperson says police evacuated staff at the IMU and guests at the hotel. They all were just taken out of the building and allowed to leave. There’s still no word on whether other guests are in the room.

UPDATE: IU Spokesperson tells me: “Police evacuated staff at the IMU and guests at the hotel. They all were just taken out of the building and allowed to leave. Small number of guests staying there otherwise.”

There’s still no word on whether other guests are in the room.
— Brock E.W. Turner (@BrockEWTurner) January 4, 2022

10:45 pm update:

The IU Police Department says the suspect that has barricaded himself in the Indiana Memorial Union is “contained in an IMU hotel room.”

IUB update: Subject is contained in an IMU hotel room. Continue to stay away from the area. Further updates will be shared on IU social media as needed.
— IU Bloomington (@IUBloomington) January 4, 2022

IU sent out the first emergency alert about the situation just after 9 o’clock tonight.

Police are negotiating with the suspect. It is unknown if anyone else is with the suspect.

There are no injuries at this time.

10:30 pm update:

There’s a large police presence outside the Indiana University Memorial Union.

There’s a large police presence outside the IU Student Memorial Union. pic.twitter.com/lEHa1b6Yrg
— Brock E.W. Turner (@BrockEWTurner) January 4, 2022

According to a university spokesperson a man has barricaded himself inside a room at the Biddle Hotel in the Union building.

Police are on the scene negotiating with the suspect.

10:05 pm update:

An IU spokesperson says people need to continue to avoid the area around Memorial Union.

A person has barricaded himself in the IMU hotel. It isn't known if there is anyone else with the man.

There are no injuries at this time.

There are no injuries at this time. It is not known if there are others with the man, per university spokesperson.
— Brock E.W. Turner (@BrockEWTurner) January 4, 2022

9:55 pm update:

Indiana University spokesperson Chuck Carney says a suspect called IUPD Monday night and was not making sense during the call.

According to Carney, the suspect stated that he was at the Indiana Memorial Union Hotel.

Officers arrived and located the male barricaded in a hotel room. Officers are currently negotiating with him to get him out of the room.

Original post:

IU sent out an alert Monday night warning of a 'dangerous situation' at the IU Memorial Union.

The university sent out a first notice at 9:04 p.m., then a second notice that situation was continuing at 9:28 p.m.

The public is warned to stay away from the area and follow instructions from IU officials and local authorities.

IU Bloomington Update: A dangerous situation continues at Indiana Memorial Union. Police are at the IMU. Stay away from the area. Follow official instructions.
— IU Bloomington (@IUBloomington) January 4, 2022

Police scanner traffic indicated a suspect had barricaded his/herself in a room and had a gun.

We have a team of reporters at the scene waiting in a media staging area for updates.