The Hudson County Regional SWAT Team and the North Bergen Police Department safely negotiated a hostage situation that involved a woman and two children earlier today, authorities said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Hudson County Regional SWAT & North Bergen PD responded to a barricaded subject holding a woman & 2 children hostage at a hotel at 2600 Tonnelle Ave in North Bergen,” the HCPO tweeted this afternoon.
“Crisis & hostage negotiators safely de-escalated the situation & negotiated a surrender & release of the hostages.”
At 11:29 a.m. on Wednesday, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released more information.
Divine Torres, 21, of Staten Island, was charged by the North Bergen Police Department with kidnapping, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault (strangulation of a domestic violence victim), and terroristic threats.
Additional charges against Torres are pending in New York City.
Yesterday just after 10 a.m., North Bergen police responded to the Days Inn at 2600 Tonnelle Avenue after being notified by the NYPD that they were there conducting an investigation regarding a woman being taken and held against her will along with two young children, ages three months and two years old.
Hudson County Regional SWAT responded to the scene and with their crisis and hostage
negotiators were able to make contact with the suspect and safely and peacefully negotiate his surrender and the release of the hostages.
There were no injuries during the operation to civilians or law enforcement.
Suarez credited the Hudson County Regional SWAT, the North Bergen Police
Department, and the NYPD, for the investigation and arrest.
“Yesterday’s response by Hudson County SWAT was an excellent job in which the officers
utilized their training and resources to peacefully and safely de-escalate a potentially dangerous situation,” she added.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
