An off-duty Georgetown firefighter is in hot water after being nabbed in a hostage episode that shook a quiet Kansas neighborhood. Jonatas Pereira, 41, stands accused of a slew of charges including kidnapping and endangering children, according to court documents.
The ordeal unfolded on February 20, when police in Colby, Kansas, were alerted to a possible armed man holed up with hostages. Responding swiftly, officers from several agencies, including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, found a Texas-registered vehicle linked to a suspect behind a local residence. As authorities worked to defuse the situation, one hostage managed a daring escape through a bedroom window, per reports from CBS Austin.
Law enforcement counted five hostages in total—three women and two children. The standoff came to an end at around 10:38 a.m. when Pereira emerged from the home with the hostages in tow and was taken into custody. He currently holds a spot at the Thomas County Jail, awaiting further legal proceedings.
Making matters more complex is Pereira's history with the Georgetown Fire Department and a prior accusation of family violence dating back to March 2020 with no charges pressed. In light of the recent incident, Fire Chief John Sullivan confirmed that Pereira has been placed on administrative leave. "The city of Georgetown takes this matter seriously and knows this incident is greatly concerning..." Sullivan said in his statement. "We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in Kansas and appreciate all they work they have done."
Pereira, who has been with the department since 2017 and was also serving as a medic for the Central Texas Regional SWAT Team, saw his commitments with the tactical unit revoked. The City of Georgetown and the Fire Department continue to work closely with Kansas officials to navigate the aftermath of this harrowing occurrence.
