Popcorn firm’s finance chief held hostage by employee, police say

A Popcornopolis manager being held hostage by an employee in El Segundo is the gourmet-popcorn company’s chief financial officer, authorities said Tuesday.

A female employee armed with a handgun walked into the company’s corporate offices at about 8:15 a.m. and ordered all employees out except for the CFO, said El Segundo Capt. Bob Turnbull.

“At this point in time, we have her locked in an office … and we’re negotiating,” Turnbull said. “We have it surrounded, and we’re trying to end it peacefully.”

Police have closed off the area for about 250 yards in each direction and are investigating whether the hostage taker has access to a TV or the Internet. El Segundo’s SWAT team and hostage negotiators are handling the investigation. Police are negotiating with the woman by phone.

No one has been reported injured so far, Turnbull said. Four or five employees were in the office at the time.

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