Foreigner Who Held Family Hostage Gives Himself Up To Police
The Fiscalía (prosecutor's office) has yet to decide if it will file charges against the Michael John Ludwick, the 42 year old foreigner who is an American citizen of Russian descent, kept police at a stalemate, after he detained his entire family in the family home, fired gunshots in the air and threatened to take his own life.

For almost 18 hours after the call to police, a police armored vehicle with a negotiator inside was able to get close to the home and talk to the man.

At 10:45am, first contact was made and within one half hour the man decided to come out, was treated by Red Cross and detained by police, ending the standoff that had began the evening before.

The family was allowed to leave shortly after police were called to the scene around 6:00pm Tuesday night. Ángela Patricia Jiménez, the man's wife helped them identify the problem and told them that he had a shotgun and a pistol, with ample ammunition, in the house.

Ludwick suffers from a terminal illness and needs medication to keep his pain under control. The standoff began when he ran out of morphine.

A neighbour told police that the man has always been problematic. "He shoots, shouts and has seven dogs that make noise day and night", said Hans Kastner, who lives next door to Ludwick,to the media.

Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) is preparing a complete report on the events and the the Fiscalía has 24 hours from the time of detention to file charges and ask for preventive measures, including jail.