Rocky Mount hostage situation ends peacefully after juvenile is released and suspect is...

Rocky Mount hostage situation ends peacefully after juvenile is released and suspect is taken into custody

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. — What started as a tense hostage situation at a Rocky Mount apartment Sunday ended without gunfire, injuries or a SWAT-team-style showdown — but it did end with one man in handcuffs.

The Rocky Mount Police Department and Franklin County Sheriff's Office responded to Candlewood Apartments after authorities said a man barricaded himself inside an apartment with his roommate's daughter.

And then came the waiting game.

Authorities began negotiations with the man in an effort to get everyone out safely.

According to a news release from the Town of Rocky Mount, those negotiations paid off when the juvenile was safely released from the apartment and reunited with her mother.

But police weren't finished.

Negotiators continued communicating with the man, eventually convincing him to surrender.

He was taken into custody without incident.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

FROM HOSTAGE SITUATION TO HANDCUFFS

The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Mitchell Dehaven.

According to the town, Dehaven is charged with:

Threats to bomb, burn or destroy Felony destruction of property Felony abduction

Authorities did not have to force their way into the apartment, and the situation was peacefully resolved after negotiations.

For the juvenile involved, the most important part of the story came first:

She got out safely.

For Dehaven, the ending was considerably less pleasant.

Instead of remaining barricaded inside the apartment, he eventually walked out and into police custody.

The incident remains under investigation.

As with all criminal charges, Dehaven is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Original Facebook source: Open post

Source note: Star News TV · Sep 7, 2026 12:36 AM.