2 Women Rescued After Stand-Off; 6 Men Held

A woman’s urgent whisper at the door to police responding to her 911 call led to a two-hour standoff with hostage takers early Sunday.

“Someone was standing behind the door,” said police Sgt. Kevin Thomas. “The suspects sent her to the front door to get rid of the cops.”

Officers yanked the woman outside. She said she and a female friend had been held hostage by five robbers wielding handguns. They and an alleged accomplice were arrested.

Thomas said negotiators tried for more than two hours to contact the robbers. About 2:30 a.m., the suspects freed the second woman and surrendered.