...Police initially tried to break down the front door unsuccessfully because it was barricaded...Former officer ends standoff peacefully
Houston Chronicle
Nov. 22, 2007
A former law enforcement officer [David James Vitrella] was in police custody after a five-hour standoff with SWAT officers Wednesday at a Near Northside duplex where his ex-wife was visiting... The former officer, whom police would not identity, broke into the home... His ex-wife and one of her male co-workers, who lived at the house, were inside. The man escaped and called police... the former officer, armed with a handgun, had his ex-wife in a bedroom... Police negotiated with the man... and the two came out peacefully about 6 p.m.
Hostage Standoff Ends Peacefully in Northwest Houston
myFoxHouston.com
Wednesday, 21 Nov 2007
...A man [David James Vitrella] was holding his ex-wife hostage at gunpoint... SWAT team officers from Houston Police Department were called. Police initially tried to break down the front door unsuccessfully because it was barricaded... Deputies talked with the suspect through a bullet-proof ballistic blanket at some points and by telephone other times...
Ex-West University officer charged in hostage incident
ReplyDeleteOut on bail, the former policeman is ordered to stay away from his ex-wife
Houston Chronicle
By DALE LEZON
Nov. 26, 2007, 9:54PM
A former police officer who surrendered after a standoff with Houston's SWAT team last week has been charged in connection with the incident, law enforcement officials said Monday.
David James Vitrella, 36, of Houston, is charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, aggravated kidnapping and burglary with intent to commit another felony, said John Cannon, a spokesman with the Houston Police Department.
Vitrella is free on a total of $90,000 bail, court staff said. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 13.
A magistrate judge imposed an emergency protective order Thursday, prohibiting Vitrella from going to his ex-wife's office and home and harassing her in any manner, such as by phone, officials said.
He could not be reached for comment.
Vitrella is a former West University Place police officer as well as a former University of Texas police officer, said Jane Waters, Harris County assistant district attorney.
Cannon said Vitrella allegedly broke into a home in the 900 block of Pecore about
1 p.m. Wednesday.
He apparently pointed a gun at a man who lived in the home and threatened to shoot and kill him, Cannon said. The man ran from the home unhurt and called police.
Vitrella found his ex-wife in the home, Cannon said, and held her hostage in a back room.
"At one point, he pointed his weapon at one police officer," Cannon added.
He surrendered to SWAT officers about five hours later. No shots were fired and no one was injured.
dale.lezon@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5330825.html