SWAT at Pittsburgh apartment regarding threats from an armed person

Shortly after 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, Pittsburgh police were dispatched to a home visit to an apartment in the 200 block of East Ohio Street. Police spokeswoman Cara Cruz said a 28-year-old man, who does not live in the apartment, had an argument with the mother of his children. The mother was able to leave and call 911, and the children were held hostage by the father, Cruz said: “It was really, really emotional. I was very scared. My children were used as hostages. “He wanted to kill us, me and my children,” said the children’s mother, Yvone. Responding units spoke with the mother outside who said her 7-month-old daughter and 21-month-old son were inside with her father. After an argument, the man gained entry to the apartment and made threatening statements in an attempt to hurt her. “He had a knife and like a really big wooden stick,” Yvone said. Pittsburgh Public Safety said SWAT officers, paramedics and firefighters were on scene. The negotiators managed to make contact with the man in order to persuade him to surrender peacefully. Eventually, SWAT managed to separate the suspect from the children and free them from the house unharmed. They were examined by medics at the scene and reunited with their mother. The man was taken into custody and multiple charges are pending. Download the WTAE app to stay up to date with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletter to receive breaking news in your inbox.