Woman Escapes Armed Hostage Situation in Vernon

VERNON, CT — A Vernon man is facing a kidnapping charge after an armed hostage incident on Wednesday, police said.

Officers were called to 93 Union St. at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday after receiving a report about a woman escaping after being held hostage by a man, identified as 20-year-old Joshua Padraza.

Padraza lives at that address, police said. He is accused of taking money and the woman's cell phone and then holding her hostage with a knife for about 30 minutes, police said. She eventually convinced him to let her go have a smoke outside and she fled, police said.

Padraza was captured at the house and brought to Rockville General Hospital for observation, police said.

He was charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, second-degree threatening, sixth-degree larceny and second-degree breach of peace, police said.

He was still at the hospital under a $250,000 bond and was to appear in court Thursday, police said.

Photo Credit: VPD