BLOOMINGTON - About 18 to 20 police officers cordoned off part of a mobile home court on the city's west side for about four hours Wednesday because a man refused to come out of his home.

The Willow Creek Village resident threatened to kill himself, and police were concerned he might have a handgun, said police spokesman Dave White. | Photo gallery

The incident began about 11:30 a.m. and ended about 3:40 p.m., when the man came out of his home on his own.

"Everything ended peacefully," said White.

The man complained of arm pain and was taken to BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal, where he was being evaluated Wednesday night.

No gun was found.

The incident began when a relative of the man, who is in his 30s, went to Bloomington police because he was worried the man would kill himself.

The man's stepmother later said she believes he was distraught after his live-in girlfriend moved out Monday night.

"That's kind of what I figured - he just snapped," said the stepmother.

The man was alone in the mobile home during the incident.

Police closed off access to part of Canada Lane in Willow Creek Village during the incident. They also blocked off nearby Blue Lane, but they allowed residents through after screening them.

Units on the scene included the police department's emergency response unit, which is like a SWAT team, and the crisis management unit.

The break in the stalemate came when a second-shift officer coming on duty realized he knew the man, White said.

"He had some dialog through a crack in the door," said White.

The officer talked to the man from about 2:30 p.m. until the man came out.

Neighbor Laura Pettie said she thought police showed a great deal of patience with the man.

"Let's hope he gets the major help he needs," she said.