BERGHOLZ, Ohio -- A Jefferson County Amish community said a SWAT team surrounded their schoolhouse on Tuesday afternoon as part of a custody dispute.

On behalf of the community, attorney Bryan Felmet said the one-room schoolhouse became the stage for a dramatic showdown between an Amish mother and sheriff's deputies.

Felmet said Wilma Troyer was teaching 29 children at the school on county Road 53 when several cruises from the sheriff's department and a SWAT team entered the grounds.

"They all surrounded the building. They all had their guns," said one eyewitness. "First thing I thought it was a hostage situation like that incident in Pennsylvania."

Felmet said Sheriff Fred Abdalla had come with a court order to take Troyer's daughters, ages 21 months and 9 months, since she was involved in a domestic dispute with her husband who currently lives with his family in Potter County, Pa.

A sign outside of the school said it is temporarily closed due to a raid from the sheriff's department.

Calls to Abdalla were not immediately returned. Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage as details become available.

-Renee Cardelli & Dino Orsatti, NEWS9