THOMAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a suspect identified as 41-year-old Jonatas Pereira, according to online jail records, in connection with a standoff on Tuesday in northwest Kansas.
Pereira is being held in the Thomas County Jail on requested charges of Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Criminal Threat, Criminal Restraint, Aggravated Burglary and Felony Criminal use of a weapon, according to online records.
Just before 10a.m. Tuesday, the 911 center in Thomas County received information of an ongoing incident of a possible armed intruder, according to a media release from the Sheriff's Department.
The situation was changed to a hostage barricaded suspect. Law enforcement Officers from the Colby Police Department, Thomas County Sheriff Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrived on scene.
A perimeter was established. A car with Texas plates was in the alley behind the home. While trying to establish contact with someone inside one of the hostages was able to climb out a bedroom window.
It was determined there were 3 female adult hostages still inside with 2 children. The hostage taker was a Pereira who had driven from Texas to locate the individuals in the house.
Around 10:38 am Pereira eventually walked out of the house with the hostages and was taken into custody.