The City of Elizabeth ordered the establishment of emergency shelters after issuing a Code Red order Tuesday morning. Few details were immediately available, but residents reported police activity, including from the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office and the neighboring Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

The Elizabeth Police Department posted on Facebook at 9:10 a.m.: “Increased police activity in the 100 block of E. Spruce St. Please avoid the area.”

At 9:33 a.m., the city posted on Facebook that City Hall was closed for city reasons but was being used as shelter:

“The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Elizabeth Police Department have issued a shelter in place order for the area of ​​175 Spruce Street due to law enforcement activity in the area of ​​the Fitzgerald Apartments. Please avoid the area. Residents are asked to remain in place until further information becomes available. If you are in the immediate area, please remain indoors in your homes and/or businesses until additional information is provided. If you do not receive shelter in place, you can contact City Hall for assistance. More information will follow, but as this is a fluid process involving multiple law enforcement agencies, we appreciate your cooperation.”

The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred after officers attempted to execute a search warrant, but provided no further information.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said its SWAT team was asked to assist with an incident but could not provide any further information.

Armored SWAT vehicles were spotted in the area after being brought into the area on flatbed trucks, and fire engines were stationed throughout the area of ​​South Elbert and East Spruce Street.

Elizabeth is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Denver and 15 miles east of Castle Rock. It has a population of about 1,600 people.

Residents told CBS News Colorado they knew nothing about what was happening and were simply told to hide in place.

“I heard the police officers say, ‘Come out with your hands up,’ then I heard a few shots and then they told me to go in the house and provide protection,” Shelly Kliner said. “At first I wasn’t really afraid. Of course now I’m wondering what’s going on, so I still don’t know.”