Both the north- and southbound lanes of Route 17 in northern Gloucester were blocked for about a dozen hours Monday as the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office dealt with a situation involving a barricaded suicidal subject in the 13000 block of George Washington Memorial Highway, according to Major Ryan Cookson of the GCSO.

The standoff was peacefully resolved Monday evening, the subject in question was able to receive medical treatment and all roads were reopened to traffic, Cookson stated.

“We would like to thank the Virginia State Police, VDOT, Gloucester Fire and Rescue, and the James City County Police Department for their assistance with this lengthy incident,” he said.

The incident began at 9:15 a.m., with negotiations between law enforcement and the subject beginning soon after, Cookson said. While the incident was underway, motorists were asked to use Adner and Woods Cross roads as a means to detour around the area.

Gloucester County Public Schools received information from the GCSO that Route 17 was closed several miles north of Petsworth Elementary School at about noon, according to school district superintendent Dr. Anthony Vladu.

Principal Melissa Mygas made the decision to place Petsworth students under a modified lockdown where all outdoor activity ceased, but regular learning still continued inside the building. Parents of the students were notified of the modified lockdown immediately.

Since there were a few stops that were impacted by the road closure, the school contacted those parents to make alternate bus drop-off arrangements for their children.

Vladu said that the incident was not related to Petsworth in any way and the school engaged in a modified lockdown out of an abundance of caution.