http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/01/police-at-hostage-situation-on-west-side.htmlOfficer shot, 2 others hurt at hostage situation
January 9, 2010 9:05 AM | 22 Comments | UPDATED STORY
A Chicago police tactical officer patrols the scene on 19th Street this morning. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
A West Side apartment building was the scene Friday night of both a hostage situation and an extra-alarm fire that broke out while the standoff was still going on. The standoff left three people hurt -- the suspect and his victim, and a Chicago police officer who accidentally shot himself in the foot.
It's unclear if the standoff, which lasted roughly two and a half hours, and the fire were related, though police said it appeared the fire was intentionally set. Chicago Police Officer John Mirabelli, a police spokesman, would not say whether the suspect started the fire.
The officer's injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, police said.
About 10:10 p.m. Friday, Ogden District officers responded to a domestic-related call at the three-story courtyard apartment building in the 3000 block of West 19th Street, outside Douglas Park. Police said a 30-year-old man, armed with a handgun, was holding a woman against her will in a third-floor unit.
Officers tried to enter the apartment unit but were denied, police said, prompting SWAT officers to arrive.
After lengthy negotiations with the man, the woman, 42, tried to flee the apartment through the front door, at which time the man fired several shots, striking the woman, police said.
As she ran out the front door, she ran into SWAT officers who were in the hallway, knocking them to the ground, causing one of the officers to accidentally shoot himself in the foot, police said.
Another officer returned fire at the 30-year-old suspect, but missed.
The suspect went back into the apartment and tried to flee it through a window. He suffered cuts during his escape attempt and was subsequently arrested.
The wounded officer, an 18-year veteran, was reported in fair condition at Mt. Sinai Hospital this morning, officials said.
Although his exact condition wasn't known, paramedics transported the suspect to Mt. Sinai for his cuts in serious-to-critical condition. Earlier reports indicated the officer was shot by the suspect and that the suspect was also shot.
The woman was reported in "guarded" but "stable" condition at Mt. Sinai for her gunshot wounds.
There were no injuries from the 2-11 alarm fire -- which sends about 100 firefighters to the scene -- that broke out in a second-floor unit in the aftermath of the standoff.
Police said the SWAT officers had the building evacuated prior to negotiating with the suspect.
"We had heavy fire on the second and third floor that consumed four units," said Fire Department Deputy District Chief Ken Wojtecki. He said five ambulances also responded to the scene. The blaze, which was called in about 12:40 a.m., was put out within an hour.
"This was a police scene prior to our arrival. When we got on to the scene, we confirmed with CPD that the area was safe in regards to fighting the fire for our people...for our firefighters and EMS [paramedics]," Wojtecki said.
He said in addition to the four units damaged by the flames, two others sustained water damage. A Fire Department spokesman said the city's Department of Human Services was called to help take care of about 20 displaced people.
At least a dozen emergency vehicles -- fire trucks, ambulances and Chicago police squad cars -- were stationed early this morning in the area of the three-story building, which sits across the street from Douglas Park and a half-block west of St. Anthony Hospital. A CTA warming bus, which was stationed outside the hospital, was used for the displaced people from the building.
No charges have been filed against the suspect in the standoff as of this morning.
--Jeremy Gorner and Heywood Hoffman
MBTV
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