A man surrendered to Oak Ridge police after allegedly holding a 9-year-old girl hostage on Norton Road for about 1.5 hours on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 10:15 p.m.
A man who had allegedly taken a nine-year-old girl hostage and was armed with a rifle when police responded to a family disturbance peacefully surrendered to Oak Ridge police officers after about 1.5 hours of negotiations on Thursday, authorities said.
The child was rescued, and the armed suspect was taken into custody, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.
No injuries were reported after the man, later identified as Robert Foreman, 36, of Oak Ridge, surrendered. Part of New York Avenue was closed Thursday evening as officers negotiated with Foreman and set up a perimeter.
Foreman’s relationship to the girl wasn’t immediately clear Thursday. His motive also wasn’t clear.
Police initially responded to a family disturbance at 101 Norton Road at about 6:20 p.m. Thursday. Foreman surrendered at about 8 p.m. He was taken to the Oak Ridge Police Department for questioning.
Foreman retreated into the home when officers first arrived, Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said. He stayed in the house with the hostage.
The ORPD said multiple patrol units had responded. When they arrived, they contacted a witness who said she was involved in a disturbance with Foreman. Officers then went to the home on Norton Road and made contact with Foreman, who initially barricaded himself in the home with the nine-year old girl, the ORPD said. Foreman then armed himself with a rifle and threatened the officers, refusing to come out of the home, a press release said.
The neighborhood was locked down, and residents were asked to stay inside.
“Responding officers immediately established a perimeter around the residence and restricted access to New York Avenue between Utah Avenue and Outer Drive,” the press release said. “Tactical personnel responded and established communication with the suspect. Crisis negotiators talked with Mr. Foreman for a little over an hour before he surrendered peacefully at 8 p.m. He was taken into custody, and the child was found unharmed inside the residence.”
It’s not clear who came out of the Norton Road house first, Foreman or the girl, or if Foreman was still armed when he surrendered to police.
Pictured above after a man surrendered after taking a 9-year-old girl hostage on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, are, from left, Oak Ridge Police Department Sgt. Jeremy Huddleston, Police Chief Jim Akagi, Deputy Chief Robin Smith, and Lt. Brad Jenkins, SWAT team commander. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Oak Ridge Police Department will discuss possible charges with Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark, Akagi said.
Officers were glad it ended well, he said.
It was actually the second peaceful resolution in a police response on Thursday. Police also helped locate a missing 12-year-old boy. He was found in the 900 block of West Outer Drive around 6 p.m. Thursday, or just before the family disturbance was reported on Norton Road. The two cases are not related.
The girl held hostage on Norton Road was re-united with family members and may be taken to the hospital for an evaluation, Akagi said.
It’s not clear how Foreman is related to the adult female witness. The woman was not injured, Akagi said.
Emergency responders were already out because of the search for the missing boy. They included the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. Tactical officers had been working since 7 a.m. Thursday, Akagi said.
In the press release, which was issued Thursday night, Akagi said he was proud of the men and women who worked diligently to peacefully resolve the dangerous situation and rescue the nine-year old hostage without incident.
“Our training and practice prepared us for success tonight,” Akagi said. “This is what we do, and the courage and professionalism displayed by our officers this evening is a perfect example of what they stand for and how they serve this community every day.”
The Oak Ridge Police Department blocks New York Avenue at Utah Avenue while officers negotiate with a man holding a girl hostage on Norton Road on Thursday evening, Jan. 12, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Oak Ridge Department issued multiple Nixle alerts advising residents to stay indoors and telling motorists to avoid the affected streets. The Oak Ridge Police Department said it was also very grateful for the mutual aid from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, the Oak Ridge Fire Department, and Anderson County EMS, which also responded to assist.
Oak Ridge police are still investigating the incident involving Foreman, who was transported to the Anderson County Detention Facility following his arrest for aggravated assault, the press release said.
You can sign up for Nixle text alerts from the ORPD by texting your zip code to 888777.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
The Oak Ridge Police Department blocks New York Avenue at Utah Avenue while officers negotiate with a man holding a girl hostage on Norton Road on Thursday evening, Jan. 12, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Oak Ridge Police Department blocks New York Avenue at Utah Avenue while officers negotiate with a man holding a girl hostage on Norton Road on Thursday evening, Jan. 12, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Authorities initially set up a command post at the Oak Ridge Preschool and School Administration Building on New York Avenue. The Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Department were all there at one point. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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