POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie Police were able to negotiate a peaceful end to a hostage situation on Tuesday evening. A 911 call shortly after 7 p.m. reported a dispute between a man and woman at 29 S. Hamilton Street. The responding officers approached the residence and heard the man causing damage to the residence.
Bystanders told police that the man was thought to be armed with a shotgun and was arguing with his grandmother. The grandmother was being held in the residence.
The officers called for a supervisor and additional officers to the scene. A commanding officer activated the department’s Emergency Services Unit to respond to the incident, along with hostage negotiators. The section of South White Street was closed down and officers worked to evacuate nearby houses.
Specially trained negotiators from the city police were able to make sporadic contact with the agitated man.
At 8:34 p.m. the officers were able to convince the suspect to let the grandmother leave the house. She was escorted by police to a Mobile Life ambulance where she was evaluated and declined further medical treatment.
Moments later, the suspect surrendered peacefully and was taken into police custody, according to Poughkeepsie Police Captain Richard Wilson. The subject was taken to police headquarters until a determination could be made regarding a mental health evaluation.
Captain Wilson said that his officers were assisted at the scene by officers from the MTA Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office deputies, the Neighborhood Recovery Unit, and the US Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
The street remained closed to the public until approximately 9:30 p.m. Captain Wilson noted that while the city’s department was focused on the hostage situation, the Town of Poughkeepsie police were standing by to respond to any other calls in the city limits.
