Thanks to some quick thinking and a pizza delivery app, a woman in Florida was able to save herself and her three children from a dangerous hostage situation.
Just a few days ago, 25-year old Cheryl Treadway was held hostage by boyfriend Ethan Nickerson in her own house. According to reports, Nickerson took Treadway’s cellphone and insisted that he accompany her to pick up their children from school. Nickerson was carrying a big knife at the time and was also believed to be high on narcotics.
When they returned home with the kids, Treadway was able to convince Nickerson to let her use her phone to order food through Pizza Hut’s ordering app. What he didn’t know however was that Treadway included a message for help in the section for delivery instructions.
Nickerson immediately took back the phone after the order was placed with no knowledge of what Treadway had just done.
Meanwhile in Pizza Hut, Chef Alonia Hawk was surprised upon finding the message. “I was kinda scared. I was scared for the person,” said Hawk. The restaurant’s manager, Candy Hamilton quickly decided to call the Sheriff’s Office. “I’ve been here 28 years and never, never seen nothing like that come through,” shares Hamilton.
Photo taken from wfla.com
The police quickly respond to the call and head over to Treadway’s residence. Upon hearing the officer’s cruiser pull up, Treadway immediately rushes out carrying one of her children. Unfortunately, Nickerson was still inside with a knife and her two other kids.
Hostage negotiator Lt. Curtis Ludden spoke with Nickerson for about 20 minutes beore he finally came out peacefully. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon without intent to kill, battery, false imprisonment and obstructing justice by depriving communication to law enforcement.
