A Cape Coral man is accused of holding his fiancee hostage for more than three hours early Wednesday morning before surrendering to police.
Kevin Latham James, 44, of 1819 S.E. Sixth Terrace, is charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and one count of kidnap false imprisonment of child under 13 years of age. He was denied bond on both charges and remains in the Lee County Jail.
According to Connie Barron, spokeswoman for the Cape Coral Police Department, police received a 911 call at 12:55 a.m. that a man was armed with a handgun inside a home at 1819 S.E. Sixth Terrace and was holding his fiancee against her will. The two had lived together as a couple for about seven years and had a 15-month-old child together.
James’ had found out his fiancee was planning to end the relationship, and the two began arguing, Barron reported. The woman told police that James pulled out the handgun and charged at her pointing the gun at her chest and demanding to know why she was doing this to him.
The woman attempted to lock herself in the master bedroom, but James forced the door open to gain entry. According to Barron, James continued to yell at the woman while holding the gun and he threatened to kill himself.
The CCPD’s SWAT Team and Hostage Negotiation Team were notified and responded to the home. During negotiations with a Cape officer, James let the woman’s 11-year-old son, who was in the home, leave the house. Barron reported that James kept the woman in the home for another two hours while
threatening to kill himself.
At 4:12 a.m. police were able to convince James to put down the gun and leave the home. He was taken into custody without incident and was taken to police headquarters, where he was interviewed by detectives. According to Barron, James maintained that he would never harm his fiancee and only
wished to harm himself.
A message left on an answering machine at the home was not returned.
James is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. April 5.