Raleigh Man Charged With Kidnapping After Holding Child Hostage

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — A Raleigh man was taken into custody early Friday following an hours-long overnight standoff with police at a Wake Forest apartment complex, authorities said.

Wake Forest police were called around 11:34 p.m. Thursday to the New Hope Village Apartments in the 100 block of North Allen Road after receiving a report of a disturbance, according to a town spokesperson.

A woman who contacted 911 told dispatchers that the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Roman East, was intoxicated and had made verbal threats toward her. Before officers arrived, East allegedly locked the woman out of her apartment while her child remained inside, police said.

Authorities said East and the woman had a prior relationship, though he is not the child’s father.

East remained barricaded inside the apartment for several hours and refused to comply with police negotiators while holding the juvenile inside the residence, officials said.

At approximately 6:40 a.m. Friday, East exited the apartment and was taken into custody without further incident. The child was released unharmed.

East was charged with felony second-degree kidnapping and misdemeanor resisting a public officer. He was also served with an outstanding warrant for communicating threats related to an unrelated case, according to police.

He is being held at the Wake County Detention Center and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday at 1:30 p.m.