Reports of a hostage situation

JEFFERSON CITY -- UPDATE: 2:12 p.m.

Jefferson City Police are preparing to reopen downtown streets after finishing a search of the Governor Office Building.

That search revealed no hostage situation.

KRCG News has exclusive details of the situation that led to police being called to the building.

Dan Joyce, administrative director of the Public Service Commission, said that a PSC employee on the 5th floor thought she heard an announcement stating that there was a hostage situation.

A supervisor was notified who called Sonitrol, the building's alarm/surveillance company, to find out if they made the announcement over the PA system.

Joyce said the supervisor was simply inquiring of Sonitrol if they knew of any such situation and that it was Sonitrol who decided to call Jefferson City Police.

Joyce said the employee did not see any hostage situation, only that she overheard some sort of an announcement. 

See video of the Jefferson City streets:

UPDATE: 1:34 p.m.

Governor Jay Nixon's Office has released the following statement:

"Gov. Jay Nixon is monitoring the situation at the Governor’s Office Building closely.  The Governor is in his office in Jefferson City and just completed an updated briefing from Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. James F. Kealthley. 

Gov. Nixon learned of this situation early this morning during a business meeting in Texas and returned to Jefferson City immediately.  He has remained in constant contact with law enforcement personnel and his senior staff throughout the situation."
 

UPDATE: 1:02 p.m.

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: 12:30 p.m.

A woman called the alarm company Sonitrol, which called JCPD. It was not a automated alarm as reported earlier.

Police have identified the woman, but have not elaborated.

The police told the staff to remain in their offices and slowly evacuated the employees

Police have confirmed that no shots were fired.

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.

UPDATE: 11:04 am

KRCG has talked with a person inside the Governor Office Building. He says someone over the intercom instructed everyone to stay in their offices. 

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon does NOT have an office at this building. The Governor Office Building used to be a hotel called the "Governor Hotel" when it was renovated into an office building it retained its moniker.

The building houses the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, Public Service Commission, Office of Public Counsel and the Missouri Development Finance Board. 


Update: 10:46 am

Hostage negotiators are on scene in Jefferson City after police received 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 blocks 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.

KRCG's crew at the scene reports that nearby businesses are in lockdown mode as police try to assess the situation.

Stay tuned to KRCG for the latest.