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Children released, man in custody after South Seattle standoff

SEATTLE — A SWAT team swarmed an apartment building in South Seattle where a man barricaded himself inside with a woman and four children after two assaults.

Neighbors inside the Dakota Apartments at Rainier Court, near the 3800 block of Rainier Avenue South, were forced to leave their units just after 5 a.m. after a man locked himself inside one of the units after punching two women, according to police.

One woman was able to get out and call 911.

The suspect then trapped the other woman -- who police say is his ex-girlfriend -- inside the unit with her four children.

At about 8:30 a.m., police were seen walking with two young children. The other two children were taken away through another door. The woman also got out at some point.

About an hour later, and after flash-bangs were heard, the suspect was taken away in handcuffs.

Investigators say the man's ex-girlfriend has a no contact order against him. He also has a $50,000 warrant for his arrest out of Auburn. Officers did not say what crimes he's accused of committing.

Both women who were punched are expected to be OK.