Hostage situation in Tampa ends with peaceful surrender

A man is accused of holding his pregnant girlfriend at gunpoint in their apartment.

By MICHAEL A. MOHAMMED, Times Staff Writer
Published August 3, 2007

TAMPA - An afternoon hostage situation ended peacefully Thursday when the 18-year-old gunman surrendered, according to police.

Meghan Wood, 17, called her mother about 4:30 p.m. to say her boyfriend, David Butts, had a pistol to her head, said police spokeswoman Andrea Davis. Wood is pregnant and told police Butts is the father.

Wood's mother called Tampa police, who rushed a tactical response team and a hostage negotiator to the couple's apartment in Clipper Bay Apartments at 6727 S Lois Ave.

Butts agreed to surrender after a 10-minute cell phone conversation with the negotiator, but first he asked for a few minutes to clear his head, Davis said.

At 5:38 p.m., Butts left the gun in the apartment and walked out with his hands in the air, Davis said.

Butts was being held at the Orient Road Jail on Thursday. He faces a charge of false imprisonment, and further charges may be added, Davis said.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show Butts was arrested five times last year on charges that include burglary, petty theft, possession of a weapon on school property and assault. None of the arrests have resulted in convictions, according to FDLE records.

Michael A. Mohammed can be reached at mmohammed@sptimes.com or 813 226-3404.

[Last modified August 2, 2007, 23:32:07]