Hostages Held in Charlotte's Elizabeth Neighborhood

Editor's Note: The following report is from WCNC, KOTV's sister station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte, N.C. -- A man is holding as many as nine people hostage

Friday, May 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Editor's Note: The following report is from WCNC, KOTV's sister station in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Charlotte, N.C. -- A man is holding as many as nine people hostage at the Metroview Building in the Elizabeth neighborhood.

Police say the hostage situation began around 8:30 a.m. After the SWAT Team arrived at the building at 1900 Randolph Rd., hostage negotiators made contact with the suspect inside the building by phone.

A pharmacist inside the building says a man is holding his wife and others hostage due to a domestic dispute. The wife is a clerical employee at the clinic.

The man apparently entered the building and rode the elevator up to the ninth floor where he pulled a gun out of a bag and told people to get down.

The suspect's family is also on the scene. Union County Sheriff Frank McGuirt believes the suspect is a 28-year-old from Union County. He does have a minor police record but the offenses have not been released at this time.

One of the hostages was released when she had an asthma attack. The suspect released the woman so she could get medical treatment.

Medical crews are on the scene and stretchers have been taken into the building. But so far police confirm no one has been hurt.

The Mecklenburg Neurological Association is on the ninth floor of the Metroview Building. The building is next to the former Nalle Clinic. Employees at the former Nalle Clinic have been evacuated.

Many streets around the building have been blocked off including Randolph Road, 3rd Avenue, 4th Avenue and Caswell Road.

The Mecklenburg Neruological Association has a staff of 11 neurologists that treat approximately 35,000 patients in the Mecklenburg County area.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics Team has a total of sixty-one members, separated into three units:

Tactical unit: A total of 43 members responsible for tactical operations. Grenadiers in this unit deliver chemical agents. Snipers and observers in this unit use weapon systems capable of functioning at extended ranges.

Crisis Negotiators: A total of 13 members responsible for establishing a dialogue with suspects at the scene.

Medics: A total of five members including a supervisor. The members are civilian employees of Mecklenburg County EMS and have been trained in all operations except firearms. The members of the SWAT Team serve on a part-time basis with all members having other functions within their respective agencies.