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Breaking News

Hostage Crisis in Chicago Ends

Aired August 28, 2001 - 13:41   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're going back to Chicago. The police spokesman is now meeting with reporters to see what's new.

SPOKESMAN: Has been taken to the hospital. We'll give you an update as soon as we can get it.

(CROSSTALK)

SPOKESMAN: I don't know the extent of his injuries. What Charles?

QUESTION: Was he FBI or Chicago police?

SPOKESMAN: At this particular point I would appreciate your indulgence in not identifying him until we can get the next to kin notified.

QUESTION: You said officer?

SPOKESMAN: This is -- he works for -- he's a police officer either with the Chicago Police Department or the FBI. He's part of the violent -- he's part of the Violent Crimes Task Force. They were attempting to serve, or attempting to talk to him, in regards to two bank robberies that happened last week.

QUESTION: Can you tell us why he was...

QUESTION: In Chicago?

QUESTION: ... what broke the stalemate?

SPOKESMAN: A reporter was used. He wanted to talk to a reporter. A reporter was taken in. He talked to him briefly, and then agreed to let the injured officer be released.

QUESTION: Where were these bank robberies?

SPOKESMAN: So we could get his story out. At East 7th and Kessing (ph), TCF Bank.

QUESTION: Two of them?

SPOKESMAN: Two of them at same bank.

QUESTION: Matt, were there children inside?

SPOKESMAN: Yes, there were.

QUESTION: How many?

QUESTION: Is everything OK?

SPOKESMAN: I am not sure if it's two or three. They're OK.

QUESTION: Were they the hostages?

QUESTION: Suspect's kids?

SPOKESMAN: We had an officer that was not shot that wasn't being released, so he would be part of the hostage situation. Yes, they are his kids.

QUESTION: What about his wife?

SPOKESMAN: She is up there with the police at this point.

QUESTION: Condition?

QUESTION: Was the officer the only one injured?

SPOKESMAN: The suspect is injured. I don't know if he was shot or if he was injured in being taken into custody.

(CROSSTALK)

SPOKESMAN: I've got to go.

QUESTION: How serious are his injuries?

SPOKESMAN: It's serious at this point.

WATERS: All right. That's the Chicago police spokesman briefing reporters. It's apparently over. Larry Schreiner, WGN Radio is back with us. A former police department.

It is over, Larry?

LARRY SCHREINER, WGN RADIO-REPORTER: Yes, Lou, it is. A police officer was taken under escort, also on the back of the Chicago Fire Department Ambulance, to a nearby trauma center. Is all they yelled at me as they went past was, "He's alive! He's alive."

Now, the offender has also been taken to a local trauma center by a fire ambulance underguard. I am told he is in critical condition. How he sustained his injuries we can only speculate. Police have not stated. But the situation is over.

And as soon as we can get a confirmed condition on that Chicago police officer, we will be more than happy to let you know, sir.

WATERS: And the police have confirmed that the wife and the children were in the apartment at the time?

SCHREINER: There were some children in the apartment, a wife came out -- excuse me -- a woman came up to a beat officer who was directing traffic at the scene, and said that that was her apartment. That we are trying to confirm.

WATERS: I see.

SCHREINER: The children were inside the apartment though at the time.

WATERS: All right. So the suspect is in custody. The police officer's in the hospital. The suspect is in the hospital, as Larry just mentioned, in critical condition. It's over in Chicago. As soon as we find out the details to put a ribbon on this story, we will pass that along to you.

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