JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A six-hour SWAT standoff ended peacefully on the Westside, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
Just before midnight Saturday, a woman called police to report that a man she knew threatened her family and took her child. She told officers he might have weapons. Officers said he was holding the child and several people hostage inside his home on Solandra Circle West off Jammes Road on the Westside.
JSO's SWAT team was called out, and hostage negotiators began to speak with the suspect. The man threatened to hurt himself and the child, police said. The 911 caller told police the suspect was known to have weapons. The relationship between those involved is unclear, but police say they did know each other.
Nearly six hours later, the suspect came out of the home with the child. Everyone involved was able to get out safely. The suspect is now in the custody of JSO.
Investigators said there was an altercation before the SWAT standoff began. Detectives interviewed people to determine what may have led up to the incident.
Neighbors said they were shocked to see SWAT team members in their neighborhood with tactical gear on and their guns drawn.
"It was a scary situation, knowing that it is just two houses away from your house, you don’t know what’s going to happen," Elisa Legayada said.
She said she's glad the situation didn't become violent.
"I’m just glad that it is over and ended up peacefully. I hope that the family is OK," Legayada said.
JSO did not say what started the altercation or the exact relationship between the man and mother of the child.