(Jefferson City, MO) -- Police and Highway Patrol troopers have cleared the scene around a government office building in downtown Jefferson City, where they were investigating a report of a possible hostage situation.

KOLR10's Jennifer Denman says officers left the Governor Office Building, near the Governor's Mansion, after evacuating all 10 floors of the building and finding now hostage situation.

Police have scheduled a briefing for reporters at 4:00 this afternoon to answer questions.  However, some sources say the initial report of a possible hostage taking was a false report.   The situation was taken very seriously, however, because of recent security issues, including the attack at Fort Hood in Texas last week.

 The building,  the former Governor's Hotel, was converted to an office facility called the Governor Office Building.  It houses some state offices, including the Public Service Commission, but not the Missouri governor's office.
   It's a couple of blocks away from the governor's mansion and the state capitol.


Our earlier coverage of this story:

 UPDATE: 1:02 p.m.

From KRCG- Police are slowly evacuating a downtown Jefferson City office building after a call came in reporting a hostage situation.
Police are escorting small groups of people from Governor Office Building. They are then being taken into nearby Madison's Cafe where they are giving statements to police.
There is NO confirmation of shots fired or hostages taken.
Police will not say if they have talked with the woman who called the alarm company



Update: 12:38pm

KOLR10's Jennifer Denman spoke with a woman who answered the phone at the Public Service Commission offices.  She said they were told to stay in their office and keep the doors locked.  She was not aware of any floor to floor evacuations.


From KRCG: Update 12:30pm

A woman called the alarm company Sonitrol, which called JCPD.  It was not an automated alarm as reported earlier.
Police have identified the woman, but have not elaborated.
The police told staff to remain in their offices and slowly evacuated the employees.
Police have confirmed that no shots were fired.


From KRCG:   - Update: Noon

A person inside the building said that the Highway Patrol is leading the evacuations of the building. He is not sure if there was actual violence.

UPDATE: 11:44 am

Police are doing a floor by floor sweep and evacuation. Employees have been told to stay locked in until told otherwise.

The alarm was triggered on the fifth floor at 10:02 a.m.

Previous Update: 10:46 am

Hostage negotiators are on scene in Jefferson City after police recieved an alarm of a hostage situation. Police say it was an automatic alarm and that they have not been able to confirm it.

Jefferson City Police say that, contrary to initial reports, they cannot confirm that any shots have been fired.

KRCG's crew at the scene report that the swat team in on scene and that sharp shooters have been positioned on nearby rooftops.

The Governor Office Building is a 10-story office building on Madison Street.  The building houses such government offices as the Public Service Commission and the Office of Public Counsel.

A person inside the office building reports that they are in lockdown and that they are police inside the building.

 

 Original Story:

Police in Jefferson City have shut down a city block because of a possible hostage situation at a downtown office building.

Jefferson City Police they call received an alarm message about a hostage situation but say they have not been able to confirm it.

Jefferson City Police along with Capitol Police, Highway Patrol, and the Sheriff's Department have surrounded the Governor Office Building at 200 Madison Street.

A person working in the 5th floor of the building reports that it is a hostage situation.

Reporters at the scene report that nearby businesses are in lockdown mode as police try to assess the situation.

 

 

(story courtesy: KRCG, Jefferson City)