By 11 p.m., the SWAT team remained on scene trying to negotiate with the man to surrender peacefully.
The incident began around 5:15 p.m. when police responded to a home on the 200 block of West 85th Place for a report of a man outside armed with a knife. The man went back inside the residence and has since refused to come out. Police say he is not holding anyone hostage.
Neighbors said they had to evacuate when police used tear gas in an attempt to flush out the suspect. Several children were among the evacuees.
One neighbor, who is friends with the suspect, said he has never known the suspect to be violent.
"He probably doesn't want to come out because he is fearing for his life," said Eric Jamerson. "And like anybody else as me, as a minority, I would be the same."
Jamerson said the man's family may have been the ones who called 911 because they've had disagreements with him in the past.
