Hostage Situation in Lopatcong

Hostages freed after standoff; suspect threatens suicide
By WAYNE PARRY
The Associated Press

LOPATCONG, N.J. - A man abducted his 4-month-old daughter and her mother Monday, then held them in a car surrounded by police for more than three hours before releasing them unharmed, authorities said.

Negotiations were continuing with the man, Almutah Saunders, who was in a car surrounded by police in a housing development, said Trooper Stephen Jones. Saunders was accused of triggering a statewide alert Monday morning after shooting his child's grandfather and then leading police on a chase across the state.

Erika Turner, holding her baby, Jada Saunders, left the driver's side of the car shortly after 3 p.m., walked to one of the police cars surrounding them and got in. The cruiser left skid marks as it backed away from the scene.

Both mother and daughter were checked by medical crews and appeared to be unharmed, state police Sgt. Gerald Lewis said from a nearby command post.


More: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-04112005-474705.html