Man in custody after holding 2 Ohio firefighters hostage, authorities say
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A man who was holding two Ohio firefighters hostage Wednesday night has been taken into custody, authorities said.
Eight firefighters responded to a report of a fire in a wooded area behind a home in South Amherst, about 35 miles outside of Cleveland. When fire crews arrived on the scene, authorities say a man who lives in the home became agitated and took two firefighters hostage with a rifle.
Cleveland.com, citing property records, reported that Roy Griffith Sr. owns the home. Witnesses said it was Roy Griffith Jr. who was taken into custody but officials didn’t confirm who was arrested.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Two hours later, the hostage situation came to a peaceful end and the man was taken into custody. SWAT team members converged on the house and convinced the man to release the firefighters one at a time, according to Cleveland.com.
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office said he kept saying he wasn’t going to hurt anyone. They said he told them he wanted a beer and his psychiatric medication.
The Ohio state Highway Patrol had closed part of the Ohio Turnpike in both directions as a precaution and it was later reopened.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The Associated Press contributed to this report.