Police arrest man who had barricaded himself in home with two children

Seattle police have arrested a man who had barricaded himself inside a home in the 9000 block of Fourth Avenue Northwest with two children.

The man walked out of the home and was taken into custody at about 12:50 p.m. The children were released unharmed, police said.

Neighbors called police at about 9:40 a.m. after the man's wife came outside and reported the man had poured gasoline on himself, said police spokesman Mark Jamieson. But Jamieson later downplayed that claim and said it now appears the man may have accidentally splashed himself with gasoline while filling a lawnmower.

The man had a court order prohibiting him from contacting his wife, Jamieson said.

The woman was also taken into custody this afternoon and led away in handcuffs. It was not immediately clear why she was taken into custody.

Jamieson said at least two children, boys ages 11 and 13, were inside the house with the man. Their relationship to the man is unknown, he said. Police don't believe the man threatened the children.

"The man is upset and we don't know why," Jamison said.