Lake Charles man arrested after holding girlfriend's kids hostage
Last Modified: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 4:53 PM
A three-and-a-half-hour hostage situation involving two young children was defused early Tuesday without any injuries, law enforcement officials said.
Kendal Runnels, 33, was accused of taking his girlfriend’s 6- and 7-year-old children hostage after arguing with
her at her home at 327 McNabb St., a news release from Lake Charles Deputy Police Chief Mark Kraus said.
Following the argument, Runnels fired a gun once outside the house and again inside the house, Kraus said.
When his girlfriend went to call the police, Runnels took the children hostage, Kraus said.
Police received the call at 2:29 a.m., arrived on McNabb Street, and saw Runnels inside the home with a “large caliber handgun,” Kraus said. Police negotiators and the S.W.A.T. team were called in, and the children were allowed to leave the home after 31/2 hours.
Runnels exited the house without incident a short time later, Kraus said.
Runnels, charged with two counts of second-degree kidnapping and one count of illegally discharging a firearm, was being held at Calcasieu Correctional Center.
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