A Pinellas Park man has been charged following a dangerous hostage situation that unfolded on yesterday afternoon. Russell Rippey, 37, held his girlfriend and another woman hostage at a residence while armed with an AR-15 style rifle and additional handguns. Police responded to the scene in the 9000 block of 50th Way after receiving a distress call at around 2:30 p.m., WFLA reports.
According to details from the WTSP, the incident began as a domestic dispute, and escalated when Rippey's girlfriend invited a male friend over to assist her during the altercation. Rippey proceeded to threaten the man with the rifle, as he continued to assault his girlfriend, until the man was able to leave the premises and contact law enforcement.
The Pinellas Park Police Department's SWAT team was dispatched to handle the tense situation, leading to the eventual release of the hostages—Rippey’s girlfriend, Paula Gordon, 48, and her friend, Sharon Basart, 74. IONTB reports that the two women managed to exit the home without serious injury by approximately 3:45 p.m.
After a standoff, Rippey was contacted by police and taken into custody peacefully, although he was tased during the arrest process and later transported to a local hospital. He will face three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and, additional charges may be forthcoming. It has been reported that Rippey has a prior arrest from July 16, 2023, after an incident involving a tow truck collision.
The incident, which was confirmed to be isolated and not posing a threat to the public, brings forth serious concerns about domestic violence and the proliferation of firearms in volatile situations. The victims, meanwhile, have been attended to, with at least one transported to the hospital for medical evaluation.
