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San Jose Suspect Who Took Toddler Daughter Hostage Surrenders

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- An armed man surrendered Thursday after taking his toddler daughter hostage and barricading himself at a home in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood for about six hours, police said.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Thomas Chalmes of San Jose, will be booked into Santa Clara County Jail on multiple alleged crimes, according to police.

At one point, Chalmes took his 3-year-old daughter hostage inside the residence, police said.

Police responded to a 911 call from the girl's mother at about 10 a.m. saying her 3-year-old daughter's father had come into her home in the 1700 block of Jonathan Avenue near Pine Avenue with a gun and taken the child hostage. Chalmes was at the home to sign divorce papers, according to authorities.

Neighbor Ron Vierra blocked the suspect's car in with his own gray pickup so he couldn't escape.

"The lady across the street came running out saying her ex-husband was trying to take her baby away from her," explained Vierra. "I didn't want him to leave with the baby."

Police responded with a SWAT team and surrounded the home. Attempts to make contact with the man were unsuccessful.

The girl was later released, but Chalmes remained armed and barricaded in the home, police said on Twitter at 12:20 p.m.

He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody, police tweeted at 4:05 p.m.

San Jose Unified School District officials decided to have Hammer Montessori and Galarza Elementary School shelter in place at 11:45 a.m., Assistant Superintendent Jason Willis said.

Both schools serve children in kindergarten through fifth grade and share the same campus located at 1610 Bird Ave., Willis said.

Students were scheduled for dismissal at 1 p.m. under a minimum day schedule and parents were instructed on where to pick up their children, according to Willis.

Police blocked off Pine Avenue between Bird and Ellen avenues and Jonathan Avenue between Pine and Byerley avenues.

© Copyright 2015 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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