UPDATE 9 A.M. TUESDAY:
At 11:57 p.m. Monday, the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Matthew Svendsen, came out of the home and surrendered peacefully to police, Anchorage police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said in a statement.
Svendsen faces charges of assault and interference with a report of a domestic violence crime, Castro said.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Anchorage police are responding to an armed standoff in the south-side neighborhood of Independence Park.
The Anchorage Police Department reported that an unidentified man is believed to be armed inside a Ridgemont Drive home. Law enforcement vehicles line the drive located off Lake Otis Parkway. The department's SWAT vehicle is on scene as well.
Police dispatch received a call just before 8 p.m. about a disturbance between a man and a woman involving a weapon.
"The female occupant was able to leave the residence," according to a APD release.
Ridgemont Drive is blocked on both sides. Residents have been told to stay inside and lock their doors.
Neighborhood residents Amber and Robert Heverley said they were told to leave their home while responders dealt with the standoff. Earlier Monday evening around 6:30 p.m., the couple returned home and spoke with their neighbor, the man allegedly holed up inside the residence. Everything seemed fine, they said.
Amber Heverley said their neighbors have two children. Aside from normal marital arguments, they said the family seems nice and normal and that they've never had problems with their neighbors.
The Heverleys described Independence Park as a pleasant neighborhood. They've only lived on Ridgemont about a year but have never seen so many officers on the quiet drive.
By JERZY SHEDLOCK
jerzy@alaskadispatch.com