TACOMA, Wash. -- Police were in a standoff with a man they believed to be in a Tacoma house.

The SWAT team surrounded the house and threw in grenades, but received no response.

After more than two hours, the Tacoma police said they received false information that someone was in the house.

The standoff shut down M Street and L Street between South 36th Street and South Tacoma Way.

Several homes in the area were evacuated.

Police were looking for James Wamsley. Police said he is a person of interest in a homicide investigation and has an extensive criminal history.

A felony warrant was issued for Wamsley for the unlawful possession of a firearm in the first-degree.