Off-Duty Officer In Barricade Situation Now In Custody
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A veteran Baltimore police officer is under arrest, accused of shooting a woman and then barricading himself inside a home with a toddler inside.
Kai Jackson reports that officer is 20-year-veteran James Smith with the motor division. He's also been trained tactically.
This is a sad and tragic day. It's a sad day for the family of a woman who was killed and a difficult day for members of the Baltimore City police department, who were involved in a standoff with one of their own.
Baltimore City police tactical officers stormed a home in the 11-hundred block of N. Parrish Street for what police originally called a domestic disturbance. Police say around 3:40, a woman was shot and the suspect was a 20-year veteran city cop, Officer James Smith.
"Our number one concern is the community and the safety of the community. We have evacuated locations around where the officer is barricaded," said Police Commissioner Anthony Batts.
"It's not safe," said a resident.
Police managed to get the victim to an area hospital, though she later died. Further complicating the situation: the armed, off-duty officer had a four-year-old boy inside the home with him. And, police say the cop was a member of the special operations division and tactically trained.
"We now are continuing at this point to slow the situation down and try to negotiate Mr. Smith out of the residence right now to take him into custody," Batts said.
By nightfall, police had secured the safe release of the toddler and took him to an area hospital for evaluation, though there were no reports that the toddler had been harmed. After hours of negotiation, Smith gave himself up to police.
Several blocks around the residence were shut down as a safety precaution, preventing residents from getting in or out.
That child was brought out safely. That's the one piece of good news.
The victim's age and name aren't being released. It's believed that Smith is the child's biological father. We don't know the relationship between the woman and the toddler.
The displaced residents will be put up in hotels.
The investigation is ongoing.
