Hostage standoff in Hutchinson
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The standoff with Hutchinson Police and the Reno County Sheriff’s Office ended peacefully with the armed man giving up during the noon hour.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., Charles Mendenhall III was taken into custody without incident for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault & criminal threat.
The approximate six hour long standoff with members of The Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County Sherriff’s Office, South Hutchinson Police and Wichita Police Department. A female inside the residence was released unharmed. Nickerson Blvd reopened after the incident was resolved, however police say an investigation into this incident is ongoing.
This all occurring at a residence at 707 Pierce.
They say there were others in the home when it started around 6:30 a.m., but they apparently left the home and reported it to police. Early reports of a fire was over the fact that someone smelled smoke, but no fire was reported. However, Hutchinson Fire units as well as a Reno County E.M.S. unit on scene as a precaution.
There were also reports that kids may have been in the home, but Jason Yingling with Hutchinson Police tells us the kids are also okay.
Traffic on Nickerson Blvd. between Buchanan and Whiteside was re-routed to allow officials to work the situation and keep others out of harms way.