Lakeland Police Investigate Hostage Incident

<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Lakeland Police were dispatched to 1350 West Lake Bonny Drive (Bonny Crest<a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef0133eca42bf2970b-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><img alt="10_38" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef0133eca42bf2970b image-full " src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef0133eca42bf2970b-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" title="10_38" /></a> Apartments) today at approximately 12:28 pm in reference to a disturbance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Upon arrival, officers learned that Tristin Michael Nelson Wright, DOB:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>9/4/87, a resident, had been in a custody dispute over three children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Wright is the stepfather of the three children. (Ages 13, 6, and 4).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The disturbance occurred when a relative of the children came to Wright’s residence to pick them up. Wright displayed an assault rifle and refused to turn over the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Police were then contacted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&#0160;</span></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The SWAT Team responded, and at approximately 2:30 PM, the children exited the residence unharmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The SWAT Team was deployed to clear the residence, and when they entered Wright was not there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&#0160;</span></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">At this time the whereabouts of Wright is unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Wright is asked to contact the Lakeland Police Department, 863.834.6900.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Wright is believed to be armed with an assault rifle, and should be considered armed and dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&#0160;</span></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><span style="COLOR: navy; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Media contacts should be directed to Sergeant Terri Smith, PIO, 863.869.4178.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p>