Armed police spotted outside Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Officers brandishing firearms were spotted outside the Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville as employees and visitors were asked to leave the area.

An armed carjacking in Grant County ended up becoming a chase in Hamilton County on State Route 37. The suspects crashed near the library, leading to a foot chase, search and evacuation of the library, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.

Both suspects are now in custody and no one was injured.

FOX59/CBS4 was first alerted by witnesses at the Hamilton East Public Library who reported that gun-toting police officers invaded the parking lot and asked staff and visitors to leave the library.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department later confirmed that the armed presence was the result of a search for an adult and juvenile suspects accused of stealing a car at gunpoint in Grant County. The duo was tracked using Flock cameras until police began pursuing them on State Road 37.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department became involved in the incident when its deputies received a report that the stolen car was traveling south through Madison County on State Route 37. HCSD reported that its deputies later corroborated the report when dispatchers received a complaint about a vehicle that matched the description of the stolen car.

According to police, the suspects refused to pull over and fled pursuing police cars until they collided with two innocent vehicles near the intersection of Highways 37 and 38 (or Conner Street) in Noblesville, next to the GetGo gas station. Law enforcement also reported that prior to the crash, the suspects managed to avoid stop sticks that had been placed on SR 37 southbound and 186th Street.

Police said that after the accident, the two suspects fled on foot.

The juvenile suspect was arrested in the Hardee’s parking lot, but the adult suspect is believed to be hiding in the library.

A search of the library eventually uncovered the second suspect, who was taken into custody without incident, the sheriff’s department said.

This is a developing story. Check back regularly for updates.