SWAT blitzes Vegas house; hostages free

More than 35 loud bangs echoed through a south Las Vegas neighborhood this morning as Metro Police SWAT officers lobbed gas and noise bombs into a home where a robbery suspect had taken four residents hostage.

All four hostages, three men and a woman, were released safely before SWAT officers entered the house at about 9:20 a.m. One suspect was in custody at presstime, with at least one and possibly two others still at large, police said.

One of the hostages was injured, having received cuts on his arm. He underwent medical treatment at the scene.

After entering the house, SWAT officers uncovered a quantity of drugs -- police declined to elaborate on the type or amount.

"Investigators are trying to determine how all of the pieces fit together," Metro Police spokesman Lt. Rick Alba said after the drugs were discovered.

A call for help from a hostage reached 911 dispatchers at 3:33 a.m. this morning. Reports from the scene indicate that the line had been left open, allowing police to hear what was transpiring inside the home.

Dozens of Metro officers, including a SWAT team, surrounded the home at 2469 Covered Wells Ave., off Las Vegas Boulevard South and Richmar Avenue, south of Blue Diamond.

Between 7:50 and 8:20 a.m., more than 35 loud bangs were heard by reporters, who were kept about a quarter mile from the scene, out of sight of the action.

Neighbors were evacuated before the sounds were heard.

When the first patrol officer responded to the emergency call, police observed a man running from the home, a small safe in his hands, Metro Sgt. William Minor said.

Police were taking that man, identified as Alejandro Gutierrez, 19, into custody when a second suspect with a shotgun ran out the front door and then retreated inside when he saw police, Minor said.

SWAT arrived and began surrounding the property about 4:20 a.m. when officers could not get the gunman to come out. SWAT's initial surveillance of the house revealed a rear door open, leading them to believe that a third suspect may have fled.

Negotiators were unable to make contact with the gunman by phone or bull horn.

The suspects, police said, will face charges of kidnapping, robbery with a weapon, and burglary with a weapon.

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