AMHERST, Ohio — A hostage incident involving two South Amherst, Ohio firefighters is over and the suspect is in custody.
According to Fox 8 Cleveland, the suspect, identified as Roy Griffith Jr., has been arrested and there are no reported injuries.
Firefighters were initially called to a report of a brush fire. WKYC reported that the firefighters confronted a man at the scene who was illegally burning leaves.
During the confrontation, he pulled out a rifle and held the firefighters hostage at gunpoint for two to three hours.
Griffith is being held at at a jail on charges of inducing panic, kidnapping, felonious assault and having weapons while intoxicated.
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office said Griffith kept saying he wasn’t going to hurt anyone. They say he told them he wanted a beer and his psychiatric medication.
South Amherst Fire Department is an all-hazard volunteer department with about 25 members who serve 9,000 residents in a 32-square-mile jurisdiction.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol closed part of the nearby Ohio Turnpike in both directions as a precaution. It was later reopened.