Mom Used Pizza Hut App to End Hostage Situation, Deputies Say

A fast-thinking mother with a frequent order history at an Avon Park Pizza Hut gets the credit for saving herself and her children from a hostage situation that unfolded in their home Monday.

According to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, Cheryl Treadway and her boyfriend, Ethan Nickerson, spent a good chunk of Monday arguing while Nickerson is accused of carrying around a “large knife.” When the time came for Treadway to pick up her school-age children, Nickerson grabbed her and took her cellphone. He also went along for the ride to the school, a media release from the agency stated.

Once back home, Nickerson failed to return the cellphone, the release stated. He did, however, acquiesce to her requests to order a pizza and handed over the phone.

Treadway placed her “order” using Pizza Hut’s app. She, however, left an unusual message in the comments section asking restaurant staff members to call 911 and to send help, the sheriff’s office said.

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When the 3:40 p.m. message that read “Please help. Get 911 to me” was received by Pizza Hut employees, they knew something was amiss with their frequent customer so they contacted the sheriff’s office immediately, the release stated.

Deputies responded to both the restaurant and Treadway’s home. When Lt. Curtis Ludden knocked on Treadway’s door, she came out with a small child in her arms and told them her other two children were inside still with Nickerson, who was armed with a knife, the release said.

Deputies escorted Treadway and the small child to safety and began to speak with Nickerson through a closed door.

“After about 20 minutes, Lt. Ludden was able to talk him into coming out peacefully,” the sheriff’s office noted. The other two children were removed, unharmed from the home.

Nickerson, however, now faces aggravated assault with a weapon, battery, false imprisonment and obstructing justice charges. Nickerson remained in the Highlands County Jail Wednesday in lieu of $45,000 bond.

Booking photo courtesy of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office

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