ROCKFORD, Ill.–A hostage situation and a six-hour standoff with police at a credit union branch here has been brought to an end with no injuries and an arrest.
Police have taken into custody Nicholas August, 39, following the standoff at a branch of Heritage Credit Union here. According to police, August was arrested after emerging from the branch with the HCU employee. He has been charged with armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint, police said.
In addition, police alleged August sexually attacked the CU employee during the alleged robbery, and he has also been charged with two counts of sexual assault/
Police said the standoff began about 2:30 p.m. on Friday when August, who lives in the area, allegedly entered the credit union armed with what appeared to be a gun. August allegedly instructed several people inside the credit union to leave, but he held a 39-year-old female employee at gunpoint.
By the time police arrived, August had barricaded himself inside the branch, with police and FBI negotiators then spending several hours seeking to get him to surrender. A SWAT team was also on site.
After more than six hours, negotiators convinced August to turn himself in, according to police. ABC News reported officers rescued the female CU employee and made the arrest without further incident.
August allegedly had a pellet gun on him when he was arrested, police told the news outlet. He is being held on $2 million bail. It is believed August had no connection to the credit union employee.