Hostage situation over at Drury Hotel; suspect in custody
ST. LOUIS – A hostage situation at a downtown hotel has ended peacefully, with one person in custody.
A large police presence gathered at the Drury Plaza Hotel at 4th and Market streets Wednesday morning after receiving word that an armed man was holding a woman and two children in a room. The children were locked in the bathroom while the man and woman were arguing in the room.
One of the children called 911 around 5:15 a.m. The man then got on the phone, stating he was armed with a weapon, according to Joe Morici with the St. Louis Police Department.
Police evacuated a portion of the building as the SWAT team arrived, along with hostage negotiators.
“You’ve got to make sure you get that conversation going,” Chief Robert Tracy said. “Because that person is looking for help, and in the end, is going to get the help they need.”
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The children were released from the room at 6:15 a.m.
The suspect kept the woman in the hotel room until just before 3:45 p.m. The man peacefully stepped out about 45 minutes later.
No one was seriously injured. Police said the man and woman know each other but it remains unclear what their relationship is.
“She’s doing well; everyone is doing well,” Morici said. “He’s getting the psychiatric help that he needs and she was uninjured, so she is home with family right now.”
FOX 2 reached out to Drury Plaza Hotel management but they had no comment on the matter.
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