A hostage standoff that began Wednesday between an armed 26-year-old San Francisco man and a Sacramento SWAT team is continuing into this morning with few changes overnight, a sheriff's sergeant said.
Sheriff's negotiators said they made contact with Anthony Alvarez overnight in the apartment complex in the 2400 block of Arden Way in Sacramento where he has been holding a 16-month-old boy hostage since 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sacramento County sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran said this morning.
The dialogue was eventually cut off by Alvarez, Curran said, and the suspect remained in the apartment as of 7 a.m. Attempts to reestablish contact have been unsuccessful.
Alvarez, whose birthday is Thursday, said he suffered a bullet wound to his arm and some sort of head wound, according to Sacramento County sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran. But police have their doubts as to whether he was shot or not.
Alvarez is wanted in connection with a May 26 bank robbery at the U.S. Bank on Clayton Road in Concord, as well as for shooting at a Concord police officer who pursued him after a traffic stop on Friday and for questioning as a potential suspect in a Bay Area homicide. His family says he is mentally ill.
He reportedly shot at officers from a bedroom window at around 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Thursday, Curran said. No one was injured and officers did not return fire.
The young hostage has been identified as Michael Pittman, Alvarez's cousin's son. He is believed to be unharmed and in good condition.
"The child has been seen several times, which was a tremendous relief to us," Curran said.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
