NORFOLK — A 33-year-old man is facing serious charges following what police described as a hostage situation that started late Saturday and ended early Sunday.
Johnathan D. Harris was arrested following his surrender to police after negotiators were successful in talking him out of a home in the 1400 block of East Tanners Creek Drive around 1:30 a.m. Sunday
Harris is charged with four counts of abduction by force without justification. He being held in the Norfolk City Jail without bond, police said in a news release.
Detectives believe the incident stemmed from a domestic situation Saturday night.
After Harris was taken into custody, police found four people — three children and one adult — “inside the residence held against their will.”
All four were not injured.
The incident
Officers responded to a reported “suspicious situation” around 10 p.m. Saturday.
The caller told dispatchers Harris was inside the home and refusing to let his three children, ages 6, 7, and 9, and a woman, 54, leave, police said.
Officers were told Harris made threatening statements toward the children and the woman.
Police special operations team, bomb squad, and police negotiators responded and set a perimeter around the home. Shortly after 1 a.m. negotiators were able to contact Harris over the phone, police said.
After speaking with negotiators for more than 15 minutes, Harris surrendered.
