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Sarah Dallof reporting A five-hour standoff in a Salt Lake neighborhood ended peacefully following some serious threats. The man involved, 68-year-old Alvin Munsee, allegedly held a woman at knifepoint for more than two hours Saturday. She escaped, and police and SWAT were called to the scene.
Throughout the entire standoff, Munsee was behaving erratically, wandering in and out of the house, sometimes carrying different colored towels or holding up signs in the windows. Police say he also made odd requests, indicating to them a mental illness.
Tear gas was eventually fired into Munsee's home, and minutes later he surrendered, bringing about a peaceful ending to the lengthy standoff.
Neighbor Stephanie Phillippi said, "I couldn't believe it, to be quite honest. I saw it and was like, ‘What in the world is going on?'"
Neighbors who were evacuated say Munsee had grown increasingly paranoid in the past couple days, telling them he was being watched by the FBI. It came to a head Saturday when he held a woman renting a room in his home hostage at knifepoint for more than two hours, prompting the five-hour standoff.
Lt. Dave Hoffman, with the Salt Lake Police Department, said, "He's got a history of weapons and assaults in the past, has made threats to officers in the past."
A case in 2005 resulted in Munsee pleading guilty to felony kidnapping. He was also found to be mentally ill. Family members say he was receiving treatment. His granddaughter said, "He's not usually like this, you know what I mean. He just hasn't been taking his medication."
Munsee was looked over by paramedics after being exposed to the tear gas. Neighbors returned to their homes, glad no one was hurt but with patience wearing thin.
Phillippi said, "This is the third time this guy has done this. It's getting ridiculous."
Police searched the home and found items that fit with the victim's story, as well as ammunition. They're still trying to open a safe but so far have found no guns and no explosives.
Munsee is being held on charges of aggravated kidnapping, assault and interfering with an arrest.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
