Posted on 06/09/2003 9:59:28 AM PDT by cgk
Man holds 5-year-old boy hostage in Orangeburg
Associated Press
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ORANGEBURG, S.C. - A 5-year-old boy was being held hostage Monday during a standoff that started when a man went to talk with his ex-girlfriend.
The incident started about 2:30 p.m. Sunday when the man went to a house where his ex-girlfriend was visiting and demanded to speak to her, Orangeburg County sheriff's deputies said.
The woman said when the man forced his way into the house, she yelled for everyone to get out. She thought her son was running out, too, but he was still inside.
Investigators tried to negotiate with the man throughout the night. Sheriff's spokeswoman Charlene Slaughter said officers tried several things to get the man out of the house, but nothing had worked by midday Monday.
"We're just being very cautious and hopeful that we can rescue this young man, and hopefully we can get the suspect out without any incident," Sheriff Larry Williams said.
The man made a demand about 4 a.m. Monday, but Williams did not disclose what the man wanted.
The man was thought to be armed, the sheriff said.
Maj. Barbara Walters said deputies have agreed to some of the man's demands, but she refused to be specific.
Walters said the man let her talk to the boy. She said the child told her he was doing fine and wasn't scared.
"We'll continue to negotiate as long as the person talks to us, and we think we can resolve this by talking," she said. "We want to see this thing come to an end and everyone go home safely."
There had been an ongoing dispute between the man and his ex-girlfriend, the sheriff said.
The State Law Enforcement Division was assisting in the effort to end the standoff.
Ms. Walters got a promotion after that riveting interview?
Seriously......Prayers going out that the little boy is freed soon.
Man holds 5-year-old boy hostage in Orangeburg
Associated Press
ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Dewayne Padgett came to see his ex-girlfriend Sunday in hopes of patching this up.
More than 24 hours later, Padgett was still holding the woman's 5-year-old son hostage at a home in a well-to-do neighborhood on the outskirts of Orangeburg.
Authorities sitting in the midday sun with temperatures near 90 degrees said Monday afternoon they would wait out Padgett. The power was still on in the home, which was surrounded by dozens of SWAT team members and other officers.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said if Padgett keeps talking to police and the child appears to be safe, then authorities will take their time.
"As long as no one is getting hurt, we feel like we are making progress," Stewart said.
Authorities said the standoff began about 2:30 p.m. Sunday when Padgett, 50, arrived at the Huntington subdivision looking for his ex-girlfriend, Kristy Weatherford.
Weatherford told deputies the two had dated for two years but broke up a few weeks ago. On Sunday, Padgett pulled out a gun and said he would kill her if she didn't come back, police said.
Weatherford tried to lock herself in the home, but Padgett forced his way in. Weatherford ran to a neighbor's house, leaving her son behind, Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said.
More than 24 hours later, the standoff continued.
SWAT team members and other officers worked in shifts to avoid too much time in the heat. Weary family members sought shade beside a fire truck just inside a police barrack.
Authorities kept members of the public at least 150 yards from the home, which was blocked from view by trees.
Maj. Barbara Walters talked to the boy, Sonny, on Monday morning. She said he told her he was feeling OK and he wasn't scared.
"We want to see this thing come to an end and everyone go home safely," she said.
Williams said officers have been negotiating with Padgett since the standoff began. They have met some of Williams' demands, including requests to talk to several people, however the sheriff would not elaborate.
"We're just being very cautious and hopeful that we can rescue this young man, and hopefully we can get the suspect out without any incident," he said.
Although the boy held in the home isn't Padgett's son, the two got along well, family members said.
Their picture ran in The Times and Democrat about a year ago after the boy joined Padgett's hunt club.
The child's grandfather kept a vigil with the rest of the family as the day wore on. The man wouldn't talk to reporters Monday afternoon, but on Sunday, Jerry Eason said the incident surprised every one.
"I think Dewayne was trying to scare Kristy into going back to him and things just got out of hand," Eason told the newspaper. "I don't think he meant for it to go this far. I think he's scared now and doesn't know what to do. I just hope he don't hurt my little grandson."
Williams said he's known Padgett for a long time and he didn't think Padgett had a serious criminal record.
"He's a pretty OK guy, I'd say, but what happened over the last few days to lead up to this, I don't know," the sheriff said.
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