I-485 at Lawyers Road in Mint Hill reopens after armed standoff

MINT HILL, N.C. (WBTV) – A portion of Interstate 485 in Mint Hill has reopened following its closure due to an armed standoff with police.

The incident happened near I-485 at Lawyers Road. As of 5:30 a.m. Thursday, both the inner and outer loops of the interstate had reopened. At 5:45 a.m., the last officers had cleared the scene.

According to law enforcement, a man armed with an axe was involved in a standoff with police.

Pineville Police said it all started around 1 a.m. Thursday, when officers were called for a report of a suspicious vehicle at BlackLion parking lot off Park Road.

Officers said the man drove off and was driving erratically, leading them to attempt a traffic stop.

The driver then fled from officers and struck a patrol vehicle twice, according to Pineville Police.

Officers said the chase ended in Mint Hill when the Pineville Police Department’s special response team was called out and the person was removed from the vehicle.

He was then taken to Atrium Health Pineville for a mental health evaluation, police said. Criminal charges are pending at this time.

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