Harvey Standoff Ends With Arrests; Hostages OK

Adult females, 6 children taken as hostages in home on the 14000 block of Robey Avenue Tuesday afternoon following altercation in which two Harvey police officers were shot

Police say two suspects have released three of the children being held hostage inside a Harvey home at West 147th Street and Robey Avenue. NBC 5’s Natalie Martinez reports.

Wednesday, Aug 20, 2014 • Updated at 10:19 AM CDT

A nearly 20-hour hostage/barricade situation in a suburb south of Chicago that began with a home burglary and two officers being shot ended Wednesday morning with the release of the final four hostages, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced.

Two individuals in the home were taken into police custody when authorities took down a door and entered the home near West 147th Street and Robey Avenue in Harvey. The suspects -- two men -- were found on the first floor.

The hostages -- 6-year-old and 12-year-old girls, as well as two adult females -- were recovered on the second floor.



"There had been a lot of tension," Dart said. "Things were changing at different times it just it was the proper time to act. ... We tried everyting conceivable to get them to understand that we weren't going away and that this was going to be resolved."

Harvey Police Officers Injured in Shooting
[IMG]http://media.nbcchicago.com/images/620*349/WMAQ_000000008466935_1200x675_319936067880.jpg[/IMG]
8/19/2014: Officer Darnell Keel, an 18-year veteran of the Harvey police force, was released from an area hospital after he was shot in the arm. NBC 5's Rob Elgas reports.

While no one was injured and no shots were fired, Dart said shell casings were found inside the home.

The release of the final hostages came hours after four other children were released throughout Tuesday evening. One sick child was released at around 6:30 p.m., another around 30 minutes later and a 1-year-old child was released at around 7:45 p.m. A fourth child, another 1 year old, was released at around 10:30 p.m.

"They haven’t been harmed," Dart said of the hostages, "but they’re very, very traumatized."

Police initially believed that five children were being held hostage, but after speaking with an 11-year-old child that was released, they learned a sixth child was also taken. One of the adult females was a nurse, according to police.

Harvey town spokesman Sean Howard said the entire incident began with a 911 call placed at about 12:48 p.m. regarding a burglary in progress at the home. The first-responding officer saw the burglary under way and responded, Howard said. Gunfire was exchanged and the officer was shot in the arm.

Officer Darnell Keel, an 18-year veteran of the force, was released from the hospital Tuesday evening and was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday morning. The second officer suffered a graze wound and was treated on the scene.

"He's a man of faith and that's where his thoughts are right now," Howard said. "He's just thanking God that it's the arm, and not something more serious."

The suspects took the hostages into the home as police began to arrive.

Police officers from 22 law enforcement agencies responded to the barricade situation.

"We thank God that our officer was not injured more seriously than he was, and our major concern right now are the individuals inside the home, that's what we're focusing on right now, their safety," Harvey Police Chief Denard Eaves said.

"We're just asking for a safe recovery of all the family and that no one will be hurt in this incident," an unidentified family member of the hostages told reporters.

Hostage negotiators were put in place and talked to the captors through an open window.

Parks Middle School was locked down at the start of the situation but later cleared. Classes were cancelled Wednesday as the standoff continued.

Around 100 residents in the area were told not to leave their homes.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local...#ixzz3AwiobwP9