GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in western Kansas say a gunman who held Finney County’s chief judge and his wife hostage over a child custody matter eventually surrendered and the two were released unharmed.
Authorities say the standoff began shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday, when the armed suspect forced his way into 61-year-old Wendell Wurst’s Garden City home and confronted the couple.
Garden City Police Chief Michael Utz says the suspect ordered Wurst to the ground and bound the judge’s hands. Utz says Wurst’s 62-year-old wife was allowed to use the bathroom, where she called police on her cellphone. She was later released.
The standoff ended more than five hours later, at which time Wurst was freed.
Police say the suspect was upset over a custody case Wurst handled.
There was no immediate word about any charges resulting from the incident.
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GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Garden City says a gunman who held the county’s chief judge hostage over a child custody matter eventually surrendered and released the victim without harm.
Authorities say the standoff began about 7 a.m. Tuesday, when the suspect forced his way into Wendel Wurst’s home and confronted the man and his wife at gunpoint.
The gunman released the woman a short time later, and she called police from a neighbor’s home.
The standoff ended peacefully several hours later.
Police say the suspect was upset over a custody case Wurst handled as Finney County’s chief judge.
There was no immediate word about any charges resulting from the captivity.
