ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – A Florida man is facing charges after he allegedly took a Hungry Howie’s employee hostage overnight Monday, officials said.
Neal Pittard, 49, was arrested for the crime after a seven-hour stand-off with police that ended around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to the Altamonte Springs Police Department.
Police responded to the pizza shop on SR-434 in Altamonte Springs around 5:20 p.m. Monday after a woman called police reporting Pittard had called her and was making suicidal threats while at the Hungry Howie’s location.
Witnesses told police he appeared to have a gun in the store.
Police said the 49-year-old made multiple threats to hurt employees before he eventually took one hostage.
Surrounding businesses were evacuated in the overnight incident. A SWAT team and hostage negotiators responded to the scene.
Authorities eventually went into the store and found the victim unharmed.
Pittard was taken into custody. He is facing charges of false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and battery.
Police are asking anyone with information on the crime to contact the Altamonte Springs Police Department.
The post Man takes Florida pizza shop employee hostage in 7-hour stand-off appeared first on NBC2 News.
