Man Surrenders After Standoff Incident Ends After Six Hours; Woman Released Unharmed

A 31-year-old man with a history of crime gave himself up Saturday afternoon after a six-hour standoff with Spokane Police.

With arms raised, Jack Hewson Jr. came out the front door of a triplex unit at 1207 N. Cook shortly after a former girlfriend, who police feared was being held hostage, walked out as well.

Hewson, who a witness said was armed, was handcuffed behind his back and taken into custody. He was charged with first-degree kidnapping and booked into Spokane County Jail.

Hewson was also booked for three outstanding warrants for failing to appear to answer to charges of reckless driving and driving with a suspended license, the jail said.

His surrender brought a peaceful end to an apparent domestic dispute.

“The history of all these situations is that time is on our side,” said Patrol Capt. Charles Bown. “The longer we can talk to him, the better.”

What finally ended the situation was the belief by Hewson that he would not be shot or harmed by police, Bown said.

Police Chief Terry Mangan, more than 20 officers, the SWAT unit, dozens of senior volunteers and paramedics waited for the incident to wind down.

Sharpshooters in full uniform surrounded the two-bedroom unit. One was perched on the roof of a house across the street. Two adjacent homes were evacuated.

Hewson entered the apartment of Wendy Madden at 8:45 a.m., wanting to see his 31-year-old former girlfriend, who had spent the night there. Their relationship, according to police, had been on and off over several years. Police did not release the former girlfriend’s name.

Madden’s 8-year-old son and his friend, 9, were in the apartment as well, Madden said.

Madden told friends at the scene that Hewson flashed a gun at all of them and threatened the two children. She escaped through a window and the two boys ran out the door.

“He wasn’t going to let the boys go because they were going to call the cops,” Madden said.

When the former girlfriend tried to walk out, Hewson put a gun to her head, Madden said.

Police spoke with Hewson many times by telephone and he indicated from the beginning he would come out if his safety could be ensured.

“He’s seen the SWAT team, he’s seen the sharpshooter. He’s concerned they’re going to storm the place,” said Dick Cottam, the police department spokesman.

The former girlfriend was released at 2:30 p.m.

Hewson has 13 criminal convictions, everything from burglary and forgery to reckless driving and failure to appear for a court date, Cottam said.

Police recovered a paint-ball gun at the scene.

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