Man Surrenders After Barricading Himself Inside Houston-Area Hospital

UPDATE 12:10 a.m. ET:

The Harris County Sheriff's office confirms the man was not armed:

Man was NOT armed. He's been taken into custody without further incident. Investigation still ongoing. #hounews

— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) January 11, 2015

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UPDATE Jan. 11, 12:03 a.m. ET:

The Harris County Sheriff's Dept. confirms the suspect has surrendered without incident:

(Source: Harris County Sheriff's office)

According to Rasta, he was not armed:

HCSO now saying man was NOT armed, they initially believed he was when he was allegedly "threatening" others @KPRCLocal2

— Anoushah Rasta (@AnoushahKPRC) January 11, 2015

Not clear if man will face any charges #TomballRegionalMedicalCenter @KPRCLocal2

— Anoushah Rasta (@AnoushahKPRC) January 11, 2015

UPDATE 11:59 p.m. ET:

KPRC-TV reporter Anoushah Rasta said the suspect has been taken into custody and the SWAT team is packing up:

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UPDATE 11:55 p.m. ET:

TOMBALL, Texas (AP) -- Authorities say a father of a patient at a Texas hospital became distraught over his son's condition, but that the hospital is safe. It was still unclear whether the man was armed.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said Saturday night the man was with his adult son inside a hospital room in the critical care unit of the Tomball Regional Medical Center. Authorities had earlier said they believed he was holding at least two hostages.

Harris County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Ambriz said a threatening situation arose around 7 p.m., but wouldn't describe it or any details about the son's condition. Authorities said areas adjacent to the room had been evacuated. Ambriz said, "the hospital is safe, the patients are safe."

The hospital is about 30 miles northwest of Houston.

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UPDATE 10:51 p.m. ET:

Here's how the Associated Press is reporting the situation, including authorities' about-face on whether or not it's a hostage situation:

TOMBALL, Texas (AP) -- Authorities now say they do not consider an incident at a Texas hospital involving a distraught father to be a hostage situation.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said Saturday night that a man was distraught about his son's medical condition and was with him inside a hospital room in the critical care unit of the Tomball Regional Medical Center. The sheriff's office said it was still unclear whether the man was armed.

Authorities had earlier said the man was believed to be holding at least two hostages.

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UPDATE 10:35 p.m. ET:

The Harris County Sheriff's Office has issued a "clarification" saying that this is not a hostage situation:

(Source: Harris County Sheriff's office)

However, minutes earlier Det. Jimmy Harral with the Tomball Police Department said, when pressed, that any time somebody barricades himself in a room with another and does not comply it is a hostage situation.

Original story below.

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A man has taken at least two hostages at a Houston-area hospital, police confirmed.

According to the Harris County Sheriff's office, early indications are that the hostage-taker is a "distraught" father of a patient. It is unknown if he is armed.

The situation is unfolding in the northern suburb of Tomball at the Tomball Regional Medical Center.

A supervisor at the county's emergency dispatch center said the situation was in the critical care unit and began around 7 p.m.

According to Detective Jimmy Harral with the Tomball Police Department, the man is believed to be armed and has barricaded himself in a room. Authorities are negotiating with the man for a "peaceful surrender" and no shots have been fired:

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KPRC-TV reporter Anoushah Rasta said the police are characterizing the situation as "very contained":

The hospital is reportedly not on lockdown or been evacuated, but it is not accepting new patients through the emergency room because it is blocked by police.

(Source: Harris County Sheriff's office)

KTRK-TV has raw video from the scene:

The same outlet reports the man is believed to be armed and has barricaded himself in a room with a patient and a family member, but he is not making demands.

Rasta has posted photos of a SWAT team responding to the scene:

The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a breaking story. Updates will be added.