Hostage Taking

"911 emergency"
"You've got 47 minutes before I kill this bitch"
"Excuse me sir? What's happening"
"She tried to escape, I caught her, and now I got her. She's got 47 minutes and counting to live. I wouldn't waste my time if I were you"
*Click*
*Dispatcher Aside* "Shit, I think I got a lock, yeah, number is listed for 12 Japanese District Road."

-Note Bucello has the information needed

**I get my gear together and prepare our potential strategy. We have the command unit, for negotiation, and the armored car, for protection if we need to get close. We'll need to negotiate to try to buy time, but if talks break down before the deadline, it may ultimately be time to gas and go.**

"Booth is code 3 to the station I am clear from here with one in custody, coming your way be there in a minute"

*I put my code 3 lights and sirens on and rush to the station*

*Realizing that bucello may be wondering what's the best unit to take, I send him a text alert via his mobile EAT*
Bucello
I've got a picture, just one vehicle is left on scene, I recommend the armoured car, and I'll try to get a patrol car out there as well, incase he tries to flee. Your call...
Burke

((The command unit is the best for negotiation. We're bringing both. The bulk of TAC will ride in the armored car and position in front of the house. The command unit will park down the street and try to negotiate. The more time we can get, the better it is for the hostage.))

(I understand that, but I was just thinking based off of the three actives you've got)
"TAC, be advised, we've received a witness report that the house is empty aside from two aforementioned subjects"

*I arrive at the station get my suspect out and run him inside and hand him off to the desk sgt., I then run back to my car pump the trunk grab my gear and run to meet bucello*

'Boss, ready when you are'

"Understood. See if we can't get some city detectives or someone from the FBI office to keep watch on the house before our sniper can get on scene."

((I'm going to mod Halls as our negotiator. Remember him? I'm also modding Martins unless he decided to be active.))

**Booth, Halls, Martins and Lafferty roll up in their cars and pull into parking spots. Their gear is already laid out.**

'Get your gear, guys. What we have right now is a hostage situation. One hostage and one hostage taker. No word on weapons, and no word on demands. We have a layout of the house, but that's about it. We don't know what room he's in. I want Halls to take the command unit and pull it into the parking lot of the convenience store nearby. That will be where we will negotiate. The rest of us, including me, will go in the armored car. I may have to go back and forth between the command unit and the raid team.'

**TAC has been gearing up as I was talking, and as soon as I finish, they split up and get into their respective vehicles.**

"Roll out Code 3 until we get to within a quarter mile. Then turn the sirens off."

'got it boss, I am guessing I'll be sniper here, correct?'

'That's right. There are townhouses all along this block, so you should try to set up on the second floor or roof of a townhouse opposite the target building.'

'10-4 I'll find one, hopefully the suspect will be in one of the front rooms then'

(Uh, when was I pulled for the TAC call? I am out at the accident site.)

((Not anymore. You're with us. This is an extension of the accident. Let's just say the state troopers and city police took over cordoning the accident.))

**As the armored vehicle pulls up through the barricades and in front of the house, I see a problem.**

'Booth, looks like you'll have to set up in the building north of the townhouse. There aren't any windows on the street side. If there are any people in the house, let me know so that we can evacuate them.'

**As I address Booth, Halls is in the command unit a few blocks away. He dials the number for the house.**

Halls: 'Sir?'
Man: 'Yeah?'
Halls: 'This is Andy Halls. I'm with the Emergency Response Team.'
Man: 'I'll bet your ass you are. This shit just got real, didn't it?'
Halls: 'It's not like that, sir. My job is to get everyone out with the least amount of trouble. We don't want anyone shot, we don't want anyone hurt in any way -'
Man: 'Look. You've got to do something for me, man. This woman here's got about a half hour. Thirty-two minutes exactly. After that, people start getting hurt. By people I mean this woman.'
Halls: 'It doesn't have to come to that. And while we're at it, can we just call each other by our names? Just call me Andy.'
Man: 'Call me Robert.'
Halls: 'Alright, Robert, what do you want me to do?'

((Burke, PM me with what you had in mind for demands.))

(Well nobody bothered to tell me about it.)

*I sit in the Armored vehicle and pull out my phone and send a text message to my wife letting her know I will be late.*

'10-4 boss'

*I leave the armored truck and head to the building north of the town house, I bang on the door and someone answers*

'Hey I am Officer Booth with the ERT I need you to evacuate the area, and I need to access your roof so if anyone is here get them out and run to your left'
'Yes sir'
*he leaves and I go up the stairs to the roof I open my case and assemble my weapon and start aiming at the suspect house*

"Booth to Bucello, I see the suspect he is armed with a silver hand gun the woman is laying on the floor head down, on the second floor bedroom number 2, all houses surrounding their place is empty as far as I could tell"

"Teams, advise of current situation. Has contact been made? We're running to 27 minutes"

((In the future, don't tell people just to leave. We have to get them out using the armored car.))

"COPA, the word I'm getting from the CP is that they have established contact. Suspect has only a silver handgun."

**Negotiations continue at the command post.**

Robert: 'I want to talk to the mayor.'
Halls: 'The mayor?'
Robert: 'Yeah, the mayor.'
Halls: 'Look, we're going to try what we can, OK? In the end, it's the mayor's choice whether or not to talk, if he's even able to.'
Robert: 'Find a way.'
Halls: 'It's not that simple. I need time to try to get you what you want.'
Robert: 'How long?'
Halls: 'A half hour, maybe more.'
Robert: 'Take twenty minutes.'
Halls: 'Alright. Why do you want to talk to the mayor?'
Robert: 'That's my business and his, man, but I do appreciate you hooking me up.'

(they're far enough away from the scene to get injured)

*I observe the male party getting frustrated*

**About fifteen minutes passes. Lafferty, Martins and I are behind the cover of the armored car.**

'Lafferty, I want you to take point. You'll carry the shield for entry. Martins will break down the door when the time comes.'

**Negotiations continue.**

Robert: 'How about that phone call, huh? Do I get to talk to the mayor?'
Halls: (Halls plays a recording of the mayor urging him to give himself up.)
Robert: 'That's a recording! Where's the mayor?'
Halls: 'The mayor doesn't have time in his schedule to talk with you - '
Robert: 'That's bullshit!'
Halls: 'Look, we went out of our way to try and get the mayor for you. You've got to do something for us.'
Robert: 'How about kill myself?'
Halls: 'Come on, Robert, that's what we're trying to avoid here! We don't want that!'
Robert: 'You led me along this whole way, didn't you? Telling me you were going to get me out of this while you surrounded the house with tanks and soldiers. You always were after me, I'll bet. Always.'

**The line goes dead.**

"COPA, the word from the CP is that the suspect hung up on us. He didn't say anything about deadlines or the hostage. We're trying to get back on the line with him."

'Yeah, sure thing Cap'

*I grab a shield and lean it against the truck.*

"COPA Copies 1080. 1144, do we have any sign of either party inside?"
(1080, and 1144 are badge numbers, seen printed in the TAC patch. I'm gonna start using those, since we don't want names over the air incase the guy intercepts and escapes, to later kill an officer booth or captain bucello, not saying it will, but I also think it sounds kinda cooler )

"1144 I have both in sight female is laying on her belly face down, hostage taker is aiming gun at her, let me know when and if i could take a shot"

"Understood 1144, take that order from 1048, not me"

"1144 copies"
"1144 to bucello suspect in sight aiming gun at the victim"
*I keep the perp in my sights*

"COPA, can we get either an ERT or a city ambulance on standby near the CP? I'm worried that we could have someone hurt here."

**Halls is still unable to reach the suspect. I try loudhailing him over the bullhorn.**

'Robert, you have to pick up the phone, alright? We want to talk to you. We don't want this to get any worse, but it's going to if you don't pick up the phone and talk to us.'

**He still does not answer the phone.**

'Alright, it looks like he's not going to answer. Prepare for entry. The plan will be posted in the ERT. Review it quickly and ask me if there are any questions; we can't mess this up.'

"Booth to Bucello, suspect and hostage are still in the same room no movement"

*I keep my gun aimed at the suspects head just in case he tries something stupid*

"Understood, 1144, thanks for the intel. Be advised that once the room is gassed, you won't have any vision to the inside of the room."

"1144 copies"

*I keep my eye on the perp*

*I look over at Bucello*

'Were ready to go when you are.''

'I'm still waiting on COPA's approval.'

**I toggle the radio switch.**

"Entry team awaiting COPA approval. We also need an ambulance on standby near the CP. Have them respond Code 2 and remain by the CP until called up."

"Understood, entry cleared, move quickly and carefully advise of further information. I'm sending a PEMS flycar on standby, a transport unit is 15 minutes out. Flycar is 3 minutes."

"Understood. We'll loudhail him for the next five minutes. After that, the flycar should be in place, and we'll go ahead with entry."

**I head back over to the bullhorn.**

'Robert, we need you to pick up the phone, OK? We don't want things to get any worse. You can end this. You can get out of this. Just pick up the phone and talk to us. That's all you have to do. Just pick the phone up, OK?'

**I repeat similar messages to no avail. Five minutes goes by. I raise my M16 with the underbarrel grenade launcher and position myself on the side of the house with windows. I fire a flash grenade through the window where the hostage is. I then load a tear gas canister, and fire it into the room as well, followed by two more.**

"COPA, gas is out."

**I get behind Martins.**

'Take the door down! Let's go!'

**Martins brings the door in. As Lafferty lifts the shield and starts to move in, I hear a gunshot from upstairs.**

"Sounds like a gunshot. 1080 to COPA, we have a single gunshot."

((I already have the victim and their injuries planned out, guys. Don't make stuff up when you go upstairs.))

(You got it captain)

*I go in the front door and make sure the living room and kitchen is clear. I stop at the foot of the stairs and make sure Martins and Bucello are behind me.*

'You guys ready?'

'You know it; clear the upstairs! The hostage is in the bedroom on the right!'

**I check the upstairs landing through my ironsights on my M16; it looks clear.**

*I go up the stairs and clear the bathroom to my left as I go by.*

'Bathroom one is clear'

*We clear bedroom number one and stop before bedroom number two*

'Cap, bathroom number two looks clear from here. Ready to move in on your command.'

((Bathroom two is inside of the other bedroom; there's no way we could've cleared it yet.))

'Go! Let's open it!'

**Manuel opens the door. The door to the second bathroom is open. The gunman is lying on the ground, and blood is coming out of the side of his head.**

"Ambulance up! Ambulance up! Gunman is down with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, second floor."

**Looking through the still-thick fog of the gas, the hostage is curled up on the ground, coughing.**

'Walk towards us; we'll get you out of here! You're going to be safe now, just walk towards us!'

(Well on the plans it looked like it had a door from the hallway as well)

'I good to clear in case my new guy needs something?'

'Lafferty, I'll need you to get the hostage out of here. Bring her to the armored car so we can check her and debrief her. I'll stay with the gunman.'

**I go into the bathroom and place my fingers on his wrist. There is a weak pulse that goes away not long after I start checking.**

"1080. The gunman just lost his pulse. Repeat: the gunman has no pulse right now."

(I meant to add am I good to clear once were done here. Sorry we got a call and I couldn't finish it.)

'Sounds good.'

*I walk the hostage out of the house and put her in the back of the armored unit.*

'Are you doing ok?'

*She sits there and just sobs*

'Cant say that I would blame you.'

*I wait for Cap to come down and debrief the hostage*

"1144 is coming down to the armored cars"

*I pack up my weapon and head back down stairs to the truck*

*I see Booth walking over to the truck*

'Hey Booth, hows it going?'

**The doctor comes up the stairs. He tries to revive the gunman but is unable to do so.**

"COPA, cancel the ambulance. We need someone from the medical examiner to collect one deceased person."

**I take one last look at the gunman, lying in the bathroom with the revolver still in his hand. I know he probably had mental problems, but it still seemed unfair. I walk out to the armored car to talk with the hostage.**

'Alright Dave, another day in the office I mean field, how's it going with you?'

*I grab my rifle and throw it in the truck*

'Eh, same stuff differnt day. Dealing with a shortage of Patrol and Traffic officers. I think we have three in patrol including myself. And, two in traffic.'

*I put the shield back in the truck and return all the gear that I borrowed.*

'Feels good to be back in my old gear.'

'Haha yea TAC is fun knocking down doors, well for me its watching people through my scope without the person on the other end knowing it, which is more fun'

'Yeah, I like being on the road.'

**I go into the armored car and sit across from the victim.**

Me: 'Ma'am? What's your name?'
Victim: 'Sarah Jawetz.'
Me: 'I'm Captain James Bucello. I lead the ERT TAC team. How are you feeling? Are you injured?'
Victim: 'I'm not hurt. I'm just so shocked right now...'
Me: 'It's alright now. Take us through what happened.'
Victim: 'Well, I was just driving from a job interview when someone rammed my car. I thought it was an accident, but I was hit again, so I stopped my car. Then, a man comes out with a gun and tells me to get out, that he was a man on a mission. He didn't say anything after that, but he just took me to this house and led me inside. Then he called 911 and said that you had 47 minutes before I was killed. You tried to call him a few times, and eventually he hung up. He said something about talking to the mayor; I don't know. Then, there was an explosion and smoke everywhere, and I heard a gunshot...' (crying)
Me: 'Look, everything is fine now. You're safe. As far as we know, that man was mentally insane and probably hadn't been taking his medication. We did everything we could to try to get everyone out alive, and we managed to get you out. That's a job well done for us, and it means you get to see your family.'

'Yeah me too. But I also like days like these when we actually save an innocent bystander, although I would've pulled the trigger if I saw him attempt to kill her, so me not having to do that is a good day'

*I grab a water out of the truck and drink some*

'Yeah, its a lot better for everyone involved.'

*I walk over to a pop machine and buy a coke and walk back over and take a swig.*

**Several cars from the city police department roll up, and detectives get out to view the scene. I look past them at the reporters assembled nearby and decide that I should probably give a statement to the media. I walk up the road to the cameras and I'm set upon by reporters.**

Me: 'Good afternoon. I'm Captain James Bucello - B, U, C, E, L, L, O - and I'm in charge of the Emergency Response Team's tactical unit. Let me just fill you in on what took place today. Shortly after 12:00 PM, we received a call that there had been a hit and run at the south exit of the Phoxlind Interstate. The car had been hit twice in an effort to force it off the road. The driver of that car stopped and was taken from the scene at gunpoint by the driver of the agressive car. The passenger remained in the car and was eventually taken to the emergency room by paramedics. I'm not aware of his condition at this time. The gunman brought his hostage to this location and proceeded to call 911 at around 3:20 this afternoon. He told the dispatcher that the hostage had 47 minutes to live. TAC responded immediately and set up negotiations in which the gunman demanded to talk to the mayor. We were able to secure a recorded message from the mayor urging him to surrender, which prompted the gunman to hang up and refuse further negotiations. After about ten minutes of continuing to try to get the gunman back on the phone to negotiate, we deployed a flash grenade and tear gas into the room and made entry. We found that the gunman fled to the bathroom to escape the gas, and committed suicide. The hostage was rescued without injury. I can take questions. Yes?'
CNN: 'Do you have a motive for this crime? Why did he want to talk to the mayor?'
Me: 'We don't really have a motive. We believe that he was mentally unstable, as we gathered from his phone conversations with us.'
WPHX TV-9: 'Do you think that your use of tear gas drove the suspect to commit suicide?'
Me: 'I think he probably would've committed suicide if we had gone into the house either way. The difference is that the tear gas forced him to leave the room, so he couldn't hurt the hostage.'
New York Times: 'Were you prepared to use lethal force against the gunman?'
Me: 'Without question, we were prepared to use lethal force. We do everything we can to avoid it, but whether its our snipers or our entry team, we won't hesitate for a second to drop the gunman where he stood. That said, our goal is to get everyone out alive, unharmed and in good condition. There are times when a huge standoff could be just a misunderstanding on someone's part, or the result of a crime motivated by passion. It's not fair that those people have to suffer deadly consequences. Alright, I appreciate your time. Thank you.'

**I walk away from the reporters, who are shouting questions behind me, and head back to the armored car.**

"COPA, TAC is clearing the scene."