Woman, child safe after hostage situation in Clayton County home

An armed man accused of taking his girlfriend and 2-year-old daughter hostage inside a Clayton County home was arrested Friday morning following an hourslong SWAT standoff, authorities said.

The incident began before 9 a.m. at a home along Andover Drive near Jonesboro, Clayton County police said. Authorities said the woman was able to get out of the home before officers and sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene.

“She told them that the male subject was still inside the house and actually had a hostage inside,” Clayton County police Capt. Steven Palmer told reporters.

Credit: Christina Matacotta

Credit: Christina Matacotta

Authorities said the man lived at the home but the child did not.

The SWAT team was called in and hostage negotiators tried to get the man to surrender, authorities said. Because the case involved a child, police said they didn’t use flash bangs or any other devices that could have injured the girl as they tried to coax the man out of the home.

Credit: Christina Matacotta

Credit: Christina Matacotta

The standoff came to a peaceful end about 11 a.m. when police stormed through the back door of the home and took the man into custody, Palmer said. Officers were able to enter the house as negotiators handed the man a phone at the front door.

The suspect, who police said appeared to be in his late 20s, was taken to the hospital. Authorities have not released his name or said what charges he may face.

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