Drug addict held over hostage siege
By Zhao Wen and Su Wentao |
October 19, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A DRUG addict allegedly held his wife and mother-in-law hostage at knifepoint for more than three hours in Putuo District before being overpowered by police yesterday afternoon.
The hostages were freed at around 1:30pm after officers broke in through the backyard of their first-floor apartment on Caoyang Road.
The 50-year-old suspect, surnamed Li, was apprehended by police in his home and taken out handcuffed, with a T-shirt covering his face, according to witnesses.
Police said Li's 72-year-old mother-in-law was not injured, while his 48-year-old wife, surnamed Ji, suffered only scratches. The women returned home at 5pm.
Ji, looking pale and drawn, later told Shanghai Daily she had feared for her life when Li put a knife to her neck.
According to Ji, the incident was prompted by a quarrel on Monday evening between Li and their 21-year-old daughter, who had seen her father taking drugs and was trying to persuade him to quit.
When she left for night shift work, Li thought she was going to report him to police, so he held Ji in the room while preparing to flee.
Ji said her husband didn't leave but, under the influence of crystal meth - also known as "ice," believed police had surrounded their home.
"He became agitated and told me and my mother to stay in the room," said Ji.
When their daughter returned, her father refused to let her in and threatened to kill her.
Li's elder brother arrived to intervene, but this only made the father angrier and Li threatened his wife and mother-in-law with knives.
Li's daughter called police at 12:20pm.
When officers arrived, Li had barricaded the door. One officer tried to negotiate, while a special unit took up positions in the backyard.
Once police entered, Li was quickly subdued. He became emotional, accusing his wife and daughter of betraying him, witnesses said.
Li was jailed for possessing drugs in 2003 and released last December.
Police seized three knives and drug paraphernalia. Both Li and Ji had a history of taking drugs, according to the police.
"He used to take heroin and began to take ice after being released," Ji said.
Some neighbors said that they knew Li was a drug addict and that the family lived off rental fees and government allowances.
The hostages were freed at around 1:30pm after officers broke in through the backyard of their first-floor apartment on Caoyang Road.
The 50-year-old suspect, surnamed Li, was apprehended by police in his home and taken out handcuffed, with a T-shirt covering his face, according to witnesses.
Police said Li's 72-year-old mother-in-law was not injured, while his 48-year-old wife, surnamed Ji, suffered only scratches. The women returned home at 5pm.
Ji, looking pale and drawn, later told Shanghai Daily she had feared for her life when Li put a knife to her neck.
According to Ji, the incident was prompted by a quarrel on Monday evening between Li and their 21-year-old daughter, who had seen her father taking drugs and was trying to persuade him to quit.
When she left for night shift work, Li thought she was going to report him to police, so he held Ji in the room while preparing to flee.
Ji said her husband didn't leave but, under the influence of crystal meth - also known as "ice," believed police had surrounded their home.
"He became agitated and told me and my mother to stay in the room," said Ji.
When their daughter returned, her father refused to let her in and threatened to kill her.
Li's elder brother arrived to intervene, but this only made the father angrier and Li threatened his wife and mother-in-law with knives.
Li's daughter called police at 12:20pm.
When officers arrived, Li had barricaded the door. One officer tried to negotiate, while a special unit took up positions in the backyard.
Once police entered, Li was quickly subdued. He became emotional, accusing his wife and daughter of betraying him, witnesses said.
Li was jailed for possessing drugs in 2003 and released last December.
Police seized three knives and drug paraphernalia. Both Li and Ji had a history of taking drugs, according to the police.
"He used to take heroin and began to take ice after being released," Ji said.
Some neighbors said that they knew Li was a drug addict and that the family lived off rental fees and government allowances.
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