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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man arrested after standoff allegedly used child as a shield

A man who allegedly used a small child as a human shield was arrested early Saturday after an hours-long standoff with police.

Police were called to a home in the 100 block of North Crestline just after 11:30 p.m. Friday on a report of a suicidal man armed with a gun. When they arrived they learned that two adults and child were in the house but the man, identified as Michael L. Hindman, refused to let them leave, a police press release said.

Hostage negotiators talked with Hindman for six hours as he became increasingly irrational, police said. At one point Hindman held the young child as a human shield, according to police.

The department’s SWAT team forced their way into the home around 6 a.m. Saturday and arrested Hindman. No one was injured in the incident.

Hindman, 28, is facing two counts of unlawful imprisonment-domestic violence.