Sgt. Brian Shab carrying the girl to safety. | MERGE
A San Jose man who took his 3-year-old daughter hostage at her mother’s house surrendered to a San Jose Police SWAT team mere hours after the incident began.
34-year-old Thomas Chalmes of San Jose entered the home in the 1700 block of Jonathan Avenue near Pine, waving a gun and demanding to see his child. Once inside, he barricaded himself and the child in the home.
The standoff lasted more than 6 hours, with Chalmes eventually releasing the child but remaining in the home himself.
The standoff was enough to close streets in the area of Jonathan between Byerly and Pine, and Pine between Bird and Ellen.
Chalmes was reportedly invited into the home to sign divorce papers, which proved a point of contention as he did not want to give up custody of his child to his now-ex wife.
The standoff ended peacefully after Chalmes finally exited the residence and surrendered to police without further incident.
Police booked Chalmes into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on multiple charges, including kidnapping and unlawful detainment.
