Salem Police in Standoff

Salem SWAT officers outside the house on Liberty Rd. near Pine Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - Salem Police have been involved in a standoff with a man that began around 6:30 PM. The area around Pine and Liberty has been blocked off for several hours.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area, and neighbors in the Pine/Librerty area are advised to remain indoors as police suspect that the man is armed and may be dangerous.

Witnesses in this normally calm neighborhood say it began with an apparent argument between a man and a woman. They said they heard police officers yelling "Ted Nelson, come out."

But Salem Police say the incident stems from an ongoing narcotics investigation. They surrounded the house at 2115 Liberty Road and began calling the man out to no avail.

Police have used robots and the Salem SWAT and Bomb Squads appear to be in the area in full force. At 9:45 PM they fired tear gas into the building, according to Salem-News.com Reporter Kevin Montgomery who is on the scene.

We'll have more information as it becomes available.