Police Investigate 'Hostage' Situation on Black Rock Turnpike

Police are investigating an incident that was initially reported as a possible hostage situation on Black Rock Turnpike on Thursday.

According to the report, the third-floor tenant of a three-family home on Black Rock Turnpike called police to say that she believed the sister of another tenant was being threatened with a gun by the building's landlord.

Police responded "appropriately" to the possible weapons threat situation, department spokesperson Sgt. Sue Lussier said, creating a barricade and halting traffic on Black Rock Turnpike.

The situation was resolved quickly, however, because the suspected landlord with a gun was not at the home when police arrived and it appeared the report may not have been "as accurate as you'd like it to be in this type of serious situation," Lussier said.

Police continue to piece together exactly what happened to spur the alarming call, but the possibility of criminal charges won't be determined until interviews with all involved are concluded, Lussier said.

As of Friday morning, police determined that the incident appeared to be a civil matter that may have turned criminal -- a distinction that will be determined upon concluding the investigation to see if the "landlord" did make valid threats against the tenant's sister.

According to the report, the sister of one of the home's tenants has been staying in the home with the sister for an extended period of time. The person described as a "landlord," whom police believe is actually a property manager, had brought in prospective tenants and may have spoken to the sister regarding a rent situation.

The tenant who is allowing her sister to stay with her heard her sister and the property manager talking, but there appeared to be a language barrier between the sister and the manager, police said. The tenant, believing her sister was being threatened, called a friend, who not involved and not on scene, and the friend called the third-floor tenant, who reported the supposed incident to police.

Police were unable to determine Thursday whether or not a gun was actually displayed, used for a threat, or even at the property during the incident.