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Breaking News

Possible Hostage Situation

Aired July 06, 2001 - 14:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: We continue to watch south Tampa, Florida, where a man suspected of robbing a bank, killing a cop and now holed up, holding hostages, surrounding by police. And we're joined by Tanya Arja of WTVT News with the latest on this story -- Tanya.

TANYA ARJA, WTVT REPORTER: Well, from the Tampa police department we are told that there really has been not a lot of movement in the last few minutes here. The suspect is still inside the apartment complex and we're told that he does have one person inside with him. We don't know yet, though, if it is a hostage or if it is another suspect. They're really not saying right now.

Right now we are, though, in a waiting period. We are waiting right now for that suspect to surrender, and that's what the Tampa police department is doing out here at this point -- Lou.

WATERS: We understand the mother of the suspect is there, helping police -- or, what is her function?

ARJA: We have not heard that specifically from the Tampa police department. There has been some rumors around here that that is in fact the case. But they have not specifically come up here and told us. All they are saying right now is that there is a hostage negotiator on scene. The tactical response unit is out here as well and they are just trying to talk to this person. They have had some contact by phone with the suspect, but they are not saying yet what, if anything, has come from that.

WATERS: All right, Tanya Arja with WTVT. The dead police officer, we understand, is a female officer, one of two who responded to a silent alarm call at a Bank of America branch nearby. They discovered the suspect. There was a chase. The suspect fired at police. The female officer was killed, her partner was wounded. And now, what you've just heard from Tanya down there in south Tampa, a hostage standoff.

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