A man barricaded himself inside a Haverhill apartment building Monday afternoon after police tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, triggering a standoff that lasted several hours before he surrendered peacefully.

State Police spokesman David Procopio said Haverhill police, with the assistance of troopers, attempted to arrest the man around 2:30 p.m., but he fled into a basement apartment in a multifamily building on Franklin Street.

“Suspect knows the persons whose apartment it is,’’ Procopio said in an e-mail while the standoff was ongoing. “NO hostages — as far as we know he is alone. We have evacuated rest of building.’’

By 6:30 p.m., the man had surrendered, authorities said. He was evaluated by paramedics and booked at the Haverhill police station.

Procopio said investigators believe the man was “armed [with] and brandished at police what appeared to be a gun at one point in [the] confrontation.’’ Authorities planned to search the apartment where he hid during the standoff.

Procopio said he did not know what the man, who was not identified, was wanted for.

During the standoff, Haverhill Mayor Jim Fiorentini had urged residents in the area to stay inside.

“If you live in the area and cannot get to your home, we are opening the citizen’s center, please proceed there,’’ Fiorentini wrote on Facebook. “We will have a bus on the corner of Charles St. to transport you. If you live in the Franklin St. area, please do not go outside.’’

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., the mayor praised police for taking the suspect into custody.

“Great job by HPD!’’ Fiorentini wrote. “Franklin St. suspect in custody but scene remains an active crime scene as police continue to gather evidence. The police report that the area is secure, people may return to their homes.’’

Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.