Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A 54-year-old man, identified as IJ, reportedly experiencing hallucinations after consuming drugs identified as methamphetamine, held a four-year-old girl hostage. The incident occurs in a police post near The Park Pejaten mall in South Jakarta on Monday, October 28.
According to Detiknews, an eyewitness, Mulyadi, said IJ arrived at the scene in a blue taxi and forcefully dragged the child into the police post, wielding a knife as he entered. Authorities immediately responded to the emergency as the girl was held hostage and threatened with a knife, initiating a delicate negotiation process to ensure the child’s safety.
“The negotiation was quite challenging because the suspect was armed, so our officers had to proceed with caution to prioritize the child’s safety,” said Ade Ary Syam Indradi, the spokesperson for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Monday, October 28.
As the negotiations unfolded, IJ demanded a vehicle to facilitate his escape, offering to release the child in return.
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Police then received assistance from a military vehicle passing through the area and allowed IJ and the child to enter. In a moment of distraction, officers swiftly secured the child and disarmed the suspect, though one officer sustained a hand injury during the struggle.
Drugs Hallucinations
Following IJ’s detainment, authorities conducted a drug test which confirmed that he was under the influence of methamphetamine.
According to South Jakarta Metro Police spokesperson AKP Nurma Dewi, IJ’s actions were fueled by hallucinations after consuming drugs in which he believed he was being pursued. He reportedly used the young girl as a “shield” that could protect him from his imagined pursuers.
“The suspect was hallucinating, believing that if he held a child, he wouldn’t be chased. This was a direct effect of his drug-induced state,” Dewi explained.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges with drug use and its public safety implications. Local authorities continue their investigation into the incident, urging stronger preventative measures to address drug-related issues across the city.
(Raidi/Agung)
