OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A 49-year-old man was arrested Monday evening following a hostage situation at the Heritage Park Inn, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said that Mark Anthony Vazquez surrendered to deputies without incident at approximately 5:45 p.m. at the motel located at located at 2050 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Recommended Videos
According to a news release, incident began after a 911 call was placed from the hotel lobby by a 52-year-old man who reported being held against his will and assaulted.
The victim told investigators he was bound to a chair the night before and repeatedly beaten and cut with a knife.
Deputies said the victim convinced Vazquez to release him on Monday. He was treated for visible injuries at Osceola Regional Hospital and later released.
According to officials, Vazquez then barricaded himself in the hotel room with a 74-year-old woman identified as a family friend who is disabled, diabetic and blind.
Deputies said he refused to let her leave. Hostage negotiators worked for more than five hours to resolve the standoff. During negotiations, Vazquez requested a pizza and a wheelchair for Perez, both of which were delivered to the room.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Deputies said a long-range acoustic device was deployed to encourage Vazquez to surrender. The device emitted amplified sound with a message instructing him to exit the room
“After several minutes, Mr. Vazquez opened the door, and the woman was helped into the wheelchair as Mr. Vazquez surrendered to deputies without incident,” the release said in part.
He was booked into the Osceola County Jail on charges of aggravated battery and failure to register as a sex offender, according to a news release.
Additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.