[UPDATED] HOSTAGE DRAMA

POLICE were called in to a quiet community in Malabar, Arima, yesterday to rescue a family who was being held hostage by a relative.

They responded to a call from relatives after a man locked himself, his wife and his stepdaughter inside their home around 7 am. Relatives said the 35-year-old man was a drug user and had apparently “tripped off.”

About a dozen police vehicles with heavily armed officers from the Special Operations Response Team, Guard and Emergency Branch, with officers from the Northern Division Task Force surrounded the house. It wasn’t until about 12.30 pm that they were able to rescue the two captives. They had to break the lock on a gate to get in. The man’s father said he did not resist when the police got inside.

The man, who works for the Water and Sewerage Authority, was said to have been acting strangely over the past couple of days. His grandfather believed someone may have spiked his marijuana with cocaine, which made him act out against his family.

“I know he smokes weed, but somebody load it up. And I know is (other relatives), I not afraid to call name.”

The man’s father and sister sat quietly outside the house, clearly distraught after the incident.

The man’s father said his son was not a violent person.

“It’s only recently that he started smoking marijuana again. He used to smoke when he was going to school, but he start again when he start liming with some people and they encouraged him. I feel they gave him cocaine, because he never act like that when he smoke weed.

“We called the police this morning when he locked the door and nobody could go inside. His wife wanted to go to work and the daughter wanted to go to school. They have the usual problems like couples, but he wasn’t violent towards her, and never hit her or the girl.”

The man was taken to the Arima health facility for observation, and his wife and her daughter were taken for counselling.

His sister said she hoped he got the help and treatment he needed because “he is a human being, too.”

The father said he did not know what his daughter-in-law would do now.

“She might sleep somewhere else tonight and maybe buy a ticket to go back (to her home country). Or I don’t know if her co-workers will help. They are very good to her.”

The heavy police presence drew onlookers, all of whom expressed their surprise and disbelief at what had happened in their neighbourhood.

The police issued a statement later yesterday stating that the man was in police custody and assisting with their investigations.

This story was originally published with the title "Malabar family rescued after being held hostage" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Police were called in to a quiet community in Malabar today to rescue a family who was being held by a relative.

Police responded to a call by relatives after a man locked himself, his wife and his stepdaughter inside their home at Harrinanan Avenue around 7 am.

Relatives said the 35-year-old man was a drug user and had apparently "tripped off."

About a dozen police vehicles with heavily armed police surrounded the house, but it wasn't until about 12.30 pm that they were able to rescue the two captives. They had to break the lock on a gate to get in. The man's father said he did not resist when they police got inside.

The man was taken to the Arima Health Facility and his wife and her daughter were taken for counselling.