JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A man who faces 13 counts of kidnapping after taking hostages inside a credit union here has been ruled competent to stand trial.
The decision comes even after Nicholas Humphrey, who allegedly held the hostages at gunpoint inside Community First Credit Union in December 2016, was found not fit for trial four times in mental evaluations ordered by the court.
However, on May 30, a psychologist submitted a report that Humphrey is now competent to assist in his own defense, and a judge entered an order to have him stand trial, according to the Jacksonville Times Union.
As CUToday.info reported, a dozen members inside a branch of Community First were held hostage before a SWAT team stormed the building, freeing them. Although Humphrey allegedly at one point put a gun to the back of one hostage’s head, no one was injured in the two-hour standoff.
Humphrey is currently being held at the state hospital in Baker County, and had opted to accept the doctor's findings and waived a hearing on the mental competency report. He will be in court July 18 for a pretrial hearing on the kidnapping and armed robbery charges, the Times Union said.
Humphrey allegedly entered the branch on Dec. 1, 2016 with a gun, a dog on a leash and a pail of dog food. He also allegedly fired one shot into the ceiling.
Seven of the hostages taken were Community First employees.
Community First CEO John Hirabayashi shared with CUToday.info readers lessons the credit union learned following the robbery attempt and hostage taking.