Don't move >> here. 447. Baby's been rescued. Baby's okay. >> Don't move. Don't move. Ma'am, are you okay? >> Don't move. >> Look, I don't make promise. I can't keep. >> I don't make promise. I can't keep. I promise. >> This man held his friend hostage with a knife to his neck. But what the officers did next to rescue the hostage was unbelievably risky. >> Look, dude, it's not worth it. >> Hey, >> it's not worth it, dude. >> At 9:00 a.m. on July 25th, 2020, Salt Lake police received a 911 call from a Smith's grocery store employee reporting a fight inside the store between two men, one armed with a knife. By the time officers arrived, the two men had left the store and were walking along 500 South. The suspects, identified as 34year-old Andrew Jacob Priest, pulled the other man close and held the knife to his neck. Officers suddenly found themselves in a hostage situation just steps from a busy street. >> Can you slip it up? He has >> Drop the knife and I will tase you if you don't stop. Stop right there. Hey, >> we'll be there. >> Who's got a hostage? >> Put the knife down, dude. >> Put it down. >> Put it down. >> Restricted. Emergency traffic only. >> Dude, it's not working. >> Put it down. >> Guarantee it. >> I guarantee it, dude. I promise you. >> Look, I don't make I can't see. I know we promise I can't keep. I promise you that. >> Hey, look. It's not worth it. Okay. >> Officers tried to talk him down, but when Andrew's threat was imminent, they had seconds to make a life or death decision. >> Hey. Hey. Yo, look. This is >> Priest was struck multiple times and although paramedics arrived within minutes, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. It was later revealed that he had prior run-ins with law enforcement and had recently completed mental health court. His family said the cops went too far, but the DA disagreed. When a knife is at someone's throat, officers don't get second chances. Officers were able to save Andrew's friend here. But what happens when the hostage is just an innocent baby? >> Hey, show the heads. Show me the head. >> On May 19th, 2024, San Diego police received a 911 call from the 400 block of 47th Street reporting a domestic violence incident. >> Emergency dispatcher 8335. >> Oh, my husband. He supposedly wants to like shoot or whatever. Or he said he want to shoot through the door. >> Are you serious? Are you serious? Don't do that. >> Are you serious? >> Are you Hello. Hello. >> Hello. This is Kim. How can I help you? Who's this? >> This is Kim. >> Who's Kim? What's >> wrong with you? >> I'm afraid. >> How can I help you? >> Who's Kim? You can't help me. >> Can I speak back to >> you? No. >> Shut up, [ __ ] >> Shut up. Don't grab me. Don't grab me. >> What is wrong with you? You want >> Shut up. You should do Who the hell is Ken? You [ __ ] >> You know what I'm saying? This going to be a movie. You keep talking like I'm playing. >> I'm not doing anything. >> Hello, Kim. >> Yes. How can I help you? >> If the police come to this door, [ __ ] I'm going to kill everything in here. I promise you that. So, you call 911, [ __ ] I'm killing people. My family already calling. You know what I'm saying? But call. I promise you, you won't have mom. >> The victim reported her ex-boyfriend, 29-year-old Nefon Natal, forced his way in, threatening to shoot her, then grabbed their 11-month-old daughter. But the dispatcher's quick thinking may have just saved both their lives. She pretended to be a friend while secretly directing officers to the scene. Officers arrived just as Natal was fleeting on foot with the baby in his arms. >> His mother is also 95. >> Yeah, that's him. Yeah, [Applause] he's going to be in the apartment complex like the 280. Hey, show your [ __ ] heads. Show your head. Yeah, he pointed the gun at me. Yeah, >> he's at the bottom of the hill. He's right at the base of the [ __ ] the ready. >> Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. >> He He fell behind that bush right there. Yeah. Yeah. When officer Glattis spotted them in the bushes, he faced every cop's worst nightmare. A man with a gun holding an innocent baby. The officer saw what looked like a gun and fired 11 shots. Even after being hit four times, the suspect kept moving with the baby. Moments later, a police helicopter joined the search for the suspect. >> Okay, well, just south of you guys, I see the contact team there. Slow down, though. Slow down. I see you guys running down the embankment. slow down. So, just to the south of you guys, you'll see the child. Just past the child, there's a little embankment. The suspect's down up against the wall. >> Hey, I need you guys to answer up. Do you guys see him? >> Okay. Child is okay. We can't see his hands yet. >> Baby's okay. Baby's okay. >> Told you. Got it. Hands down. >> Okay. >> Hands up. >> Both hands up or I will >> I have no gun. >> Let me see your hands. >> Okay. >> Hey, can you hold him? I'll pick up the baby. >> I'll put that. >> Push up. Just hold. I'll pick up the baby. [Music] >> I'll pick the baby. >> Don't move here. 447. Baby's been rescued. Baby's okay. >> It's okay. It's okay, buddy. Are you okay? It's okay. It's okay. You okay? You okay? Hey buddy, my name's my name's Henry. Are you okay? >> Natal was arrested and treated for his injuries before being charged with kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, child cruelty, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Months later, he filed a federal lawsuit accusing officers of using excessive force. However, in March 2025, Natal pleaded guilty to child inment with a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. In May, he was sentenced to 14 years and 8 months in state prison. But that wasn't the only time officers had to put everything on the line. In the next case, this brave officer was forced to make a life or death decision. >> Get down. >> Signal 13. Get down. Get down. On November 6th, 2022, Baltimore officers responded to multiple reports, including from Morehead's father, warning that a man was assaulting a woman with a knife near the intersection of North Fulton Avenue. Officer Rutherford arrived to find Tyrie Morehead holding a butcher knife to a woman's head. He ordered him to drop it, but instead, the suspect moved the blade closer to her face. >> Hey, send more units. Send more units. Send more units. >> Send more units. Get down. >> Say no. 13. Get down. Get down. >> Shot fired. Shots fired. >> Shots fired. Shots fired. Send more units. Send more units. Sir, drop the knife. Drop the knife. Sir, drop the knife. Hey, back up. Back up, sir. Drop the knife. Hey, swing around. >> We need a crime scene. Hurry up. Get that. Hey, drop the knife. Drop the knife. Sir, drop the knife. Drop the knife. >> Drop the Don't move. Don't move. Ma'am, are you okay? Don't move, sir. Don't move. >> Officer Rutherford believed the woman was in danger. Acted on instinct. Morehead was rushed to the hospital, but he didn't make it. Investigators later confirmed the victim was a stranger. She'd simply been out running errands when he grabbed her purse and threatened her. But 46-year-old Morehead, an antiviolence activist, also had a complicated past. His father said he had mental health problems but never got help. And now an innocent woman was paying the price. The Baltimore City States attorney declined to prosecute officer Rutherford, supporting the use of deadly force. In the next case, the suspect had several chances to survive, yet chose a far riskier path. >> I can I can hear you, Vincent. You say you're going to come out every cop. >> Why are you cop outside, >> Vincent? What kind of firearm do you have? On October 18th, 2022, at 10:10 a.m., the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a woman living in the 3900 block of 41st Street. >> Morning. >> Hi. Um Um I need somebody. I'm leaving my house, but I need to report on this. My dad pulled out a shotgun on me right now, and he was up his girlfriend. >> Where did that happen? >> 41st Street, >> apartment number two. I left. He's still in there. He has a He had a gun. >> Sheriff's office. What's the address you need help? >> 41st Street number two. I left, but my roommate is still there. My father was beating her up and he pulled a shotgun out and I I left. I took my son and I left. >> Okay. What's your name? >> Who was beating her up? >> My father, Vincent, like he is. >> And who was he beating up? Is this your sister or? >> No, his girlfriend, which is my roommate. >> What's your dad's name? >> Vincent Martinez. >> Just a quick description. Is he white, black, Asian? >> He's Hispanic, bald. >> Bald. How old is he? >> Uh, 54, 55. Is that >> 67? Thank you. Do you remember what he's wearing? What color shirt or pants? Um, he was in I can't even remember. It was like a black shirt, but it all happened. So, you said he's armed with eyes and he had a I think he he's he says that he was on something. He Yeah, I was I had to leave. He pulled out a shotgun. I don't know if she's okay. I just got my son and he ran out. >> And you said it's his girlfriend. What's her name? >> And how old is she? >> Um, give or take? He was around the same age as my dad. >> Anybody else in the house? >> No. >> Do you know if you needed an ambulance when you left? >> No. She I seen her sitting on the bed crying cuz she said she was calling the cops too. >> Did he threaten her with the gun from what you saw? >> Yeah, he threatened me too and my son. 51-year-old Vincent Martinez had just assaulted his girlfriend and threatened his daughter, her boyfriend, and their three-year-old child with a shotgun after accusing his daughter of calling 911. The three of them managed to escape, leaving Martinez and his girlfriend inside the home. Deputies dispatched to the home ran a criminal history check on Martinez, and they learned he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. For an hour, negotiators tried to talk him down. But when Martinez finally came out, he was using his girlfriend as a human shield with a shotgun in his hands. >> I can I can hear you, Vincent. You say you're going to come out. >> Why are you call >> Vincent? What kind of firearm do you have? Shut down. >> Shut down. [Music] >> He's got a gun. He's got a gun. >> Get her. Get her. Get her. Get her. Get her. >> Come out. Despite repeated efforts to deescalate, Martinez refused to surrender, forcing deputies to use deadly force. Officers knew that letting him back inside would likely mean death for his girlfriend. Martinez was pronounced deceased at the scene. Fortunately, no deputies or civilians sustained any injuries during the incident. However, not every hostage standoff ends as cleanly. In the next case, the suspect didn't have a gun, but he still managed to push an officer to their limits. On June 16th, 2018, Los Angeles police officers were dispatched to the Central Lutheran Church on the 6,400 block of Tyrone Avenue after receiving multiple calls about a man who had just stabbed his ex-girlfriend. When officers arrived, they spotted 32-year-old Germo Perez standing outside armed with a large kitchen knife and holding a metal chair like a shield. >> The suspect is 30 years ago on the west side of the church. Looks like he still has something in his hand. And I have units up. [Applause] [Music] >> Hey, drop it. Drop it. Drop the knife. Drop the knife. [Music] Stay cover. Keep cover. Drop the knife. >> Eric, put the knife down. >> Turn around. Put the knife down. >> Put the knife down. >> Drop the knife. >> Put it down. >> Drop the knife. >> Perez ignored every command to drop the knife. When that failed, officers fired beanag rounds, hoping the non-lethal force would bring him down. But it didn't. Instead, Perez turned, grabbed an innocent bystander, 49-year-old Elizabeth Tullison, and pressed the blade to her throat. >> With seconds to react, three officers opened fire. Perez died instantly but tragically. Elizabeth was also hit and didn't survive. Following the incident, Toulles's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit. But the next group of officers was so determined to save a woman from her dangerous ex-husband, they willingly put themselves in harm's way to do it. [Music] >> Shots fire. Let's go. Let's go. >> There he is. I see him. >> Eyes on. Eyes on. >> Hey, he got hostage. On March 12th, 2023, dispatch received a call from a woman who said her mother was in danger. >> Um, okay. I have an emergency at my house right now. I have someone who was like kind of holding my mom hostage and they have a gun. >> What's the >> um Okay. But I I need like them to come without the siren. Like I can't address. What's the siren? >> Um Okay. Are are you listening? >> Yes. What's the address? >> Okay. It's Sycamore Avenue. [Applause] Eastcamore. >> Yeah. Avenue, Brentwood Park apartments. But like they they cannot come with the sirens on because he's he's going to hear them. So >> I don't want I don't >> he he's um my mom's ex-husband >> and and I think he's on parole. So >> what's his name? >> Joshua Smith. At approximately 900 p.m., Brentwood police officers responded to a report of a woman who was at home with her daughter when her ex-husband Joshua Smith, a known felon with a lengthy criminal record, including a prior conviction for attempted homicide, broke into her home and held her against her will. >> He's like running around with her and and he won't let her go basically. But like I don't know if he sees you over there, he's going to >> Are they inside of the apartment? They're they're they're inside the apartment, but they're like running around >> like in the apartment unit >> like behind a closed door or what? >> No, no, they're outside. They're outside, but they're like running around. If she trying to get in the car with me and he keeps like chasing her around every time she gets to the front, I'm going to >> If we're looking at the apartment right here, is the vehicle on the left side, on the right side, on this side, or on the far side? >> You think it's on the right side facing that way? >> So, is it across the Got to go. Got to go. Monday. He's facing back and forth. >> Show them your hands. Britwood PD, show them your hands. [Music] >> Fire. Let's go. Let's go. >> There he is. I see him. >> Eyes on. Eyes on. >> Hey, he got a hostage. Got >> He's got a hostage. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go >> by his hand. >> I got her hands. I got I got hand. Let me get in here. Let me get in here. Shots right now. [Music] Secure the gun, Sterling. >> Officers found Smith holding his ex-wife hostage. Before officers could react, he opened fire. What happened next would show just how dangerous these situations really are. In response, one officer opened fire and a round struck a metal railing, splitting on impact. Fragments hit both Smith and the victim, injuring them. Both were rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Smith was later charged with attempted homicide, kidnapping, and multiple firearm offenses. If convicted on all accounts, Smith could face up to 90 years to life in prison. That rescue showed just how far officers will go to protect someone in danger. However, in the next case, things took a dark turn as the actual horror began after the cops had left. I've been trying to talk to you guys all week and tell you all week. >> On May 30th, 2023, police officers were dispatched to an apartment in Minneapolis following a 911 call from a woman reporting that her child's father, Joane Desawn Bazin, was refusing to leave her home. She told dispatch that she had requested an order of protection against him. >> I've been a hostage in my apartment for like 3 days. >> So, uh, when did he get here? >> 3 days ago. >> 3 days ago. All right. >> I had no phone, anything. He's up there asleep. He's not supposed to be here. He almost killed everything. >> How did he get in? >> He has the front lobby key. So, this key right here, they can't change it. As much as times like my actual door, they'll come in my building and attack me and put me in my house. >> Okay. So, you've been like held hostage for the past 3 days? >> Yes. >> And what did he do to you? >> He's moving me out. Everything, all the above. >> Okay. So, what do you want done here? >> I need you to just get him out of my house and arrest him. Okay. What are we going to arrest him for? >> A restraining order violation. He just showed up to my house, broken my house. >> Okay. He He hasn't been served with that, but we can serve him. So, we can't arrest him for that. >> And he has like a stolen car right parked behind and he has the car keys and everything. It's been located on my car for like a week. >> Okay. Well, we'll make sure that when So, as he's explaining, he hasn't been officially served with the restraining order yet. We're going to take care of that tonight when we go out there. Okay. and we'll get him served. >> Shortly after, police served Joanne with the order and escorted him out of the apartment. Jan, >> just be cool, man. It's the police. >> It's the police department. You just got to leave the apartment. It's all you got to do. >> Can I see your hands? >> Your hands clear. >> I need the car keys for the stolen car. >> Just relax, Jul. Don't argue with her. Just just communicate with us. >> Okay. >> So, the car isn't stolen, but it's her car. >> No, I I basically got this. >> Hey, we we don't need a confrontation or anything. >> We just need >> She's going to get the keys. You're going to put some clothes on and you're going to leave. >> Okay. >> So, apparently there's a restraining order now. So, we're going to serve you with the order and then you just have to leave. >> Where are your clothes on? Just hang tight. Just stay right there. >> You don't have any clothes here, officer. Just what you He didn't come over here in his underwear. >> No, he just came out here in his his outfit that he has. >> Are there any weapons near you? We just want We want to be safe. We want you to be safe. >> There's no weapons on. >> Oh, we're talking to him. >> Are you going to Are you going to leave in your boxers? Is that what you came here in? >> You got pants here. >> Put your pants on. >> Okay. Just communicate with us. Don't even worry about it. in my house. >> If there's a weapon, we want to know crazy, bro. >> All right. Can you put some lights on or something? We just have to just just hang tight. Just stay seated, Joan. Okay. We want to make sure you're safe and that we're good. This is a no. No, just hang tight. Hang tight. This is a no contact order. >> Mhm. >> Okay. This just means that you can't have any contact with who is her for, you know, a whole year. It's an official court document. You can't come here. You can't do any kind of social media. You can't call her. You can't have any kind of communication with her whether she's, you know, at work or wherever. You can't communicate with her. Do you understand that part? >> Okay. You just have to sign that part right there. >> Which one? Hang on. No, not right there. >> Hey, ma'am, just be quiet. Okay. What did we say? >> Just sign right there. Joan, >> thanks for being cooperative with us. You know, we just came up here to talk to you. >> I was just literally sleep. She literally invited me over here. That's the reason I was just knocked out. >> That may be true, but at the end of the day, this thing is in effect, and this wasn't because of us. run off with the car. >> You're good to go. You're good to leave. Joan car keys. >> The restraining order was supposed to protect her, but Joane came back just hours later. And this time, he wasn't leaving without getting what he wanted. >> Walk me through what happened today. >> So, I've been in my house hostage for like a week now. I've been getting beat conscious. Out. So this morning we woke up and it was just one of those days he was feeding me. He's cut all my hair off and took my eyebrows last night. Not all of me. He has a voodoo doll. He's been putting my hair on voodoo doll. choking me to the point where I'm I called the police yesterday. They came. I told them he's been in my house and I can't he won't let me leave. They just search for the restraining order and he ran away with my stolen car. They seen it was parked in the back, but I don't know. I guess they couldn't chase after. I don't I'm not I'm not mad. I just want a handle. >> So, you made a report yesterday night. What time did he come back today? >> No, he came back last night when the police left. Okay. What What time was that? >> Um, that was around like 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. And once he got me, he took the stolen car and we drove to his mom's house and he made me way in the garage and he went inside and grabbed his gun and he brought me back home and he was going to kill me at any second if I didn't run out. So, you went to his mom's house and you were with him? >> Yes, I was with him in the car. And >> what kind of car is it? >> It's a 2008 all black Impala with a scrape on the side and a black donut on the right back. >> And is that your car? >> Yes. It's been reported stolen for a week, but since he's my boyfriend, I told them they not my boyfriend, but my ex, he's I have a restraining order. He won't leave me alone. >> Okay. So, he went to his mom's house. Where does his mom live? And got the gun. And then what what happened? Where did you guys go after that? Oh, he went back home, but he was just >> back to when you say home, you you mean to your place at Kax. Okay. >> So, when you got back home, what happened? >> He was just beating the out of me. I've been getting beat up all week. I don't know how I'm alive. He's been strangling me to the point where I'm passing out. I have to put my thumbs up in the air to get him to stop choking me so I don't die. Here's downtown. >> So, you were in the car >> right before we got here. >> Yes. >> Okay. Which way were you guys going? North and south? >> We were just coming down this street cuz he's headed back towards his mom's right now. >> Okay. So, he's going towards Lake Street. >> Yes. >> But he just shot at me, so he threw me off the car. >> A week after the attack, Joane was arrested and hit with a long list of charges. everything from firstdegree assault to kidnapping and violating a protection order. The jury found him guilty on all charges and in 2024 he was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.