Off-duty Georgetown firefighter arrested in Kansas hostage situation

Mercedez Hernandez
·2 min read
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GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Georgetown confirmed an off-duty firefighter was arrested this week in connection with a kidnapping and hostage situation in Kansas.

Arrest records from the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office said Jonatas Pereira, 41, was booked into custody on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Court records show he’s charged with 17 counts including kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, endangering a child, disorderly conduct, and criminal restraint.

A press release from the Colby (Kansas) Police Department said 911 dispatchers received a call about an armed intruder at 9:46 a.m. on Feb. 20.

Officers from CPD, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded.

Once there, officers found a car with Texas plates in the alley behind the home and began trying to make contact with people inside.

One hostage climbed out of a bedroom window, telling officers that three women and two children were still inside. CPD said Pereira allegedly drove from Texas to find the people inside the home.

Around 10:38 am, Pereira walked out of the home with the hostages and was taken into custody.

CPD Chief Richard Barret said Pereira is still in police custody and that this is an ongoing investigation.

Attorney information for Pereira wasn’t available as of Friday afternoon. KXAN will update this story with a statement or a response when one is received.

Georgetown Fire Department response to firefighter arrest

In a statement, Georgetown Fire Chief John Sullivan said Pereira has been placed on administrative leave because of the incident, per Texas civil service law.

He said the City of Georgetown will also conduct an internal investigation into Pereira’s actions.

Sullivan said Pereira has been employed with GFD since March 2017. He was also assigned to the Central Texas Regional SWAT Team as a medic but has been removed from that assignment.

The statement said Pereira was accused of a separate family violence incident in March 2020. The incident did not result in any charges being filed against Pereira after the complainant declined to pursue the case.

“The City of Georgetown takes this matter seriously and knows this incident is greatly concerning to the Georgetown community and the community of Colby, Kansas. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in Kansas and appreciate all the work they have done. The City is committed to working through this internal investigation expeditiously,” Sullivan said in a statement.

Pending its own internal investigation, the City of Georgetown said it cannot comment further on this case at this time.

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