BAINBRIDGE – A three-hour hostage standoff between New York State Police and a Bainbridge man who was allegedly holding his wife against her will ended without shots being fired.

At approximately 11:40 a.m. Thursday, a man identified by neighbors as Michael Davis Richardson, 33, surrendered to police outside his residence at 6 Johnson St. in the Village of Bainbridge.

“They came out willingly after a period of time,” reported New York State Police Captain James E. Barnes, who was one of more than 20 law enforcement officers on the scene.

Police were alerted to the potential hostage situation at 8:21 a.m. when a call was placed to the Chenango County 911 center reporting a domestic dispute, Barnes said. The call was placed by a concerned relative, he explained, adding that police believed the couple’s four children had been removed from the home by relatives several hours earlier.

Officers arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and established a perimeter, blocking off several side streets and a portion of State Route 7. Hostage negotiators and Bureau of Criminal Investigation also responded.

“In the course of talking with negotiators, the subject came out on his own volition,” he reported.

According to Barnes, the man was taken to the Troop C Barracks in Sidney for questioning. He would not confirm reports that the suspect was in possession of a firearm. The charges against the subject have not been released.

“We’re still conducting our investigation,” he said.

Sun Staff Writer Tyler Murphy contributed to this story.

More details will be available in Friday's Evening Sun.