Hostage situation: online pizza order reveals woman being held hostage by boyfriend - TomoNews
Originally published on 06 May, 2015 Sign up for a free trial of News Direct's animated news graphics at http://newsdirect.nma.com.tw/Reuters.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For story suggestions please contact [email protected] A Florida woman and her children survived a hostage situation on Monday afternoon by placing an order along with a message seeking help to a Pizza Hut in Avon Park. Cheryl Treadway and her boyfriend Ethan Nickerson, who was carrying a large knife, had been arguing throughout the day. According to Lieutenant Ludden of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, while in the house, Nickerson was sharpening a knife and threatened Treadway with statements like “I’m going to kill you.” When Treadway attempted to leave the house to pick up her children, Nickerson took Treadway’s phone and went with her. Upon returning home, Treadway convinced Nickerson to let her use the phone to order pizza. She placed a message in the comments section explaining she was in a hostage situation and asked employees to contact the police. Nickerson took the phone back afterwards. Pizza Hut employee Chef Alonia Hawk spotted the message and immediately contacted the Highlands County Sheriff's Office upon realizing the situation and recognizing the order as being from a frequent customer. "It said 'Please help! Get 911 to me.' And she placed a pizza order and then down here it said, '911 hostage help,'" said Pizza Hut manager Candy Hamilton to WTSP. Officers were dispatched to both the Pizza Hut location and Treadway's home. Treadway ran out with a small child when police arrived and said Nickerson was inside with her other two children. A police negotiator was able to talk Nickerson into surrendering himself after 20 minutes. No one was injured in the incident. Deputies believe Nickerson may have been high on methamphetamines at the time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next Media Animation’s News Direct service provides daily, high-quality, informative 3D animated news graphics that fill in for missing footage and help viewers understand breaking news stories or in-depth features on science, technology, and health. To subscribe to News Direct or for more info, please visit: http://newsdirect.nma.com.tw/Index.aspx
