A Chicago man has been charged with kidnapping following a hostage situation and police standoff on Cicero Avenue in southwest suburban Bedford Park.
Charles Esaw, 40, of Bedford Park, faces aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery and aggravated restraint charges, police said.
Esaw was arrested Monday after his wife called police, saying he was holding her hostage in the cab of his semi-truck with her two small children and two dogs.
Police said they received the call at around 1:22 p.m. and quickly converged on the area at 45th and Cicero Avenue where the truck was parked.
When officers responded, police said the man tried to hit them with the vehicle. The woman was released just before a short vehicle pursuit in the 4400 block of Cicero Avenue.
Once stopped, Esaw was persuaded by an officer to release the younger of the two children, police said. The other child and two dogs were released unharmed a short time later.
The Chicago police SWAT team set up positions surrounding the truck in at 43rd and Cicero, but the man exited the vehicle without incident and was arrested. The truck was moved to a nearby parking lot and searched.
Charges are pending, according to police.
Cicero was shut down between 43rd and 47th. The Illinois Department of Transportation closed the I-55 exit ramps to Cicero, stalling traffic en route to Midway Airport.
