Senneca HarrisThe Cleveland Police Department attempted to serve a domestic assault warrant on Tuesday night and ended up arresting 38-year-old Senneca Harris on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping.
Harris refused to make contact with police officers at an East Street NE residence, according to officers who arrived to serve the warrant. The other owner of the home, who was the alleged domestic assault victim, gave consent for officers to enter the residence.
At the time, Harris had barricaded himself inside the home with three young children, according to Evie West, spokeswoman for the Cleveland Police Department.
“Two of the three children were allowed to leave the home, but Harris took the youngest child into a bedroom and barricaded himself and the child inside,” West said.
Harris then told officers that neither he nor the child were coming out of the room, police said. Several attempts were made to negotiate with Harris, but they were unsuccessful, police said.
“When officers heard the child begin to cry, they had to act, especially since they had no visual [contact with the] inside and they had no idea what was going on,” West said.
Officers forcefully entered the room and found the child safe. Harris relinquished the child to officers and was placed in custody. He has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping, West said.
“No one was injured during the entry or arrest of the suspect,” she said. “[the officers’] actions should be commended.”