SWAT finds NE Houston home empty after standoff

A Houston police SWAT team early today found a house empty after staking out the home because they believed a suicidal man with a pistol was inside, HPD spokesman Sgt. John Chomiak said.

Police surrounded the home in the 3200 block of the Eastex Freeway after receiving a call at 10:18 p.m. Monday about a man with a pistol threatening to kill himself and any police who tried to enter the home, Chomiak said.

The home, northeast of downtown, belongs to the man's parents, Chomiak said. He said the parents called police and left the house after their son, 24, made the threats.

After surrounding the house for more than eight hours, police early today broke in and found it empty, Chomiak said.

Police are looking for the man, who has an outstanding misdemeanor escape warrant from Abilene, Chomiak said. Details of that case were not available early today.

kevin.moran@chron.com