Spokane: Police Resolve Potential Hostage Situation
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~ Spokane Police Successfully Rescue Child After Standoff with Suicidal Man

On Monday evening, Spokane Police responded to a report of a suicidal man in the 00 block of North Grant Street. The man, later identified as Lt. Terry Preuninger, was allegedly threatening to take his own life and harm his four-year-old child who was in the apartment with him.

According to the complainant, Preuninger had been sending text messages to his ex-wife stating that she would never see their child again. Responding officers quickly formulated a rescue plan for the child and attempted to establish communication with Preuninger, who was watching them from inside the apartment but refused to engage.

After several hours of failed attempts at communication, the Spokane Police Department's SWAT team was activated and joined by the Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT), Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU), and members of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office SWAT team. Despite numerous efforts by HNT to contact Preuninger, he continued to ignore police.

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As law enforcement continued their efforts to communicate with Preuninger, they also prepared for a potential rescue of the child. After several hours without any response from Preuninger, he suddenly decided to comply and surrendered without incident by opening the front door.

Upon entering the apartment, officers found the child asleep in bed and unharmed. The child was examined by medics and then reunited with their mother. Meanwhile, Preuninger was taken into custody and hospitalized for evaluation and treatment. A firearm was also recovered from the apartment.

The Spokane Police Department has stated that a criminal investigation is pending in this case. They have commended their officers for their swift response and successful rescue of the child during this tense standoff situation.

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