The woman who allegedly kidnapped a man at gunpoint and forced him to drive her to a Castiac home where she barricaded herself for three hours, had a love for dogs which helped in securing her surrender, authorities said.
Melissa Bryant, 43, released the man unharmed and eventually gave herself up after hours of intense negotiation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
Deputies said they deal with these types of situations at least three times a week.
"She had claimed that she was not going to come out and the reason was because she did not want to be committed based on her mental illness," said Lt. Carlos Marquez, commander for the LASD Crisis Negotiation Team.
Authorities said that she had allegedly gotten high on methamphetamines the day before, which escalated the situation.
There were conversations back and forth and at least a dozen cellphone calls between Bryant and negotiators before she surrendered. Family and friends of the woman fed deputies information during the standoff.
"One of the things that we learned that would calm her down was her love for her animals," Marquez said. "Specifically one her dogs."
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Deputies in these units require at least 10 years on the job because each moment comes down to split-second yet very calculated decisions.
