Rideshare passenger taken into custody in Westport after hours-long standoff with police
A man who allegedly made threats while in a rideshare vehicle Wednesday morning was taken into custody in Westport after a lengthy standoff with police, a Kansas City Police Department spokesman said.
Police were called to the 1000 block of Westport Road on a report of an armed person in a vehicle around 10:30 a.m., said Sgt. Phil DiMartino with KCPD. Police surrounded the area and had patrons of businesses in the area shelter in place for safety.
The man, who had been a passenger in the rideshare vehicle, allegedly made threatening comments and mentioned a weapon, which prompted the driver to stop and call police, DiMartino said.
When officers arrived, the man refused to exit the vehicle, and tactical response officers and negotiators responded to the scene. Around 1 p.m, after a lengthy period of negotiations with the man, police took him into custody.
An investigation is ongoing, DiMartino said.