SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Police in Salt Lake City are responding to what appears to be a hostage situation in a downtown hotel room.

Salt Lake Police Sgt. Robin Snyder told Local News 8 they received a call on Friday saying Joe Dee Stang was at the All Star Motel on North Temple.

“We were able to make contact by hotel phone,” Snyder said. “He told us he was the one who committed the robbery (at Zion’s Bank) and he had a female hostage.”

Snyder said police have no been able to verify Stang has a female with him, but are currently working on that. Police said they do believe Stang has a handgun with him.

Salt Lake police evacuated the motel and a popular restaurant next door, the Red Iguana, for safety precautions.

Several hours ago, Snyder said, Stang cut off communication with negotiators, Snyder said.

Police tried to toss a throw phone into Stang’s motel room, but the phone couldn’t make it through the window because Stang has barricaded the window, Snyder said.

Police have not had any contact with Stang since he cut off communication.

“At this point, time is on our side,” Snyder said. “We would rather have him come to use peacefully than have us go in after him.”

However, Snyder said as the situation continues, if police know Stang will not surrender peacefully, they will have to take it to the next step.

There are currently about 30 to 50 responders at the hotel. This includes the SLC Police Department and their SWAT division as well as the David County SWAT/Paramedics team.

The police’s Pioneer Precinct and a local shelter offered space to those who had been displaced by the evacuation, but no one took advantage of the offer.

Joe Dee Stang escaped from an Idaho Falls Correctional Work Center on July 3. Since his escape, police said they believe Stang burglarized Bell Hardwood Floors and stole a van and handgun. The van was recovered in Salt Lake on July 22.

Police said they believe Stang is responsible for a July 29 bank robbery in Salt Lake.

The 45-year-old was serving concurrent sentences for burglary and malicious injury to property in Bonneville, Bannock and Bingham counties.

Stay with LocalNews8.com for updates and this story develops.