Possible Hostage Situation Reported on W. Broad St.

UPDATED: 4:40 pm

Bethlehem Police resolved a hostage crisis at a West Bethlehem home within an hour of it first being reported.

A man reportedly barricaded himself in the home at 1766 W. Broad St., the Breaking News Network first reported at a little before 3 p.m.

Within minutes, BNN added that there might be a hostage inside the home. ordered W. Broad Street closed between 16th Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, tweeting that motorists should avoid the area.

The department also asked , which was about to turn loose its pupils, to go on lockdown for safety reasons, according to the ’s Web site.

But by 3:55, the situation had been completely resolved. The subject surrendered to police without incident, W. Broad Street was reopened to traffic and the pupils at Calypso were dismissed.

During the brief crisis, the West Bethlehem block was flooded with officers and detectives. An armored vehicle was brought to the scene.

Details on the situation at the home are currently unavailable. Lehigh County property records indicate that 1766 W. Broad St. is owned by John and Carol Ramsden, who bought the two-story, three-bedroom, brick half-twin in September.

The suspect surrendered to police without incident, according to a BNN report issued at 3:40 p.m. Soon after, the Bethlehem Police tweeted that the situation was “resolving” and that W. Broad Street would soon reopen.

The school district reported that the police informed them that Calypso pupils could be dismissed at about 3:45.