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Crime

The Early Details on the Hours-Long Standoff at an L.A. Nordstrom: 1 Hostage Sexually Assaulted, 1 Stabbed, Robbers Escape

Jan. 11, 2013 11:32am Madeleine Morgenstern

Robbers on the Run After Hours Long Hostage Situation at L.A. Nordstrom: 1 Hostage Sexually Assaulted, 1 Stabbed

This Feb. 15, 2012 file photo shows the Nordstrom Rack store at The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center in Los Angeles. Robbers took 14 workers hostage late Thursday, culminating with a police SWAT team rescue. (AP)

LOS ANGELES (TheBlaze/AP) — Robbers stabbed a clothing store employee and sexually assaulted another during an hours-long hostage drama that ended early Friday with a police SWAT team surging into the shop and rescuing 14 workers.

No robbers were found. Police were seeking at least two men and also were trying to determine whether a car found abandoned in neighboring Culver City was the getaway vehicle.

The ordeal at the Nordstrom Rack store near Los Angeles International Airport began at about 11 p.m. when a man called 911 and reported that his girlfriend had called and said there were gunmen in the store, Lt. Andy Neiman said.

Police officers and special weapons team members swarmed the Promenade at Howard Hughes Center, an outdoor shopping center that also contains restaurants and a theater.

The officers saw a black male leave the second-floor store but he ran back inside when he saw police, KTLA-TV reported.

Moments later, another man came out with a woman, but when he saw the police he grabbed her and pushed her back inside, Neiman said.

SWAT members surrounded the location but weren’t able to talk to anyone inside during the four-hour standoff.

When they finally burst into the store, they found hostages locked in a storage room and others in a bathroom, Neiman said.

The 13 women and one man were all believed to be employees because the store was closed when the robbery began, Neiman said.

One hostage was treated at the scene for a non-life threatening stab wound, Neiman said.

Another employee had been sexually assaulted, Neiman said, although he declined to provide details.

A third hostage was pistol-whipped, police told the Los Angeles Times.

Other workers complained of minor injuries, “probably because they’d been manhandled or pushed away by the assailants,” the lieutenant said.

Officers searched the store to make sure nobody was hiding but didn’t find the robbers, Neiman said.

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Comments (85)

jjufon
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:37pm
We must close down these clothing stores; they are a breeding ground for bad behavior

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- rs9
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:58pm
  The woman who was raped was probably not wearing a veil (storry on Blaze yesterday) so the black muslim criminals were justified in raping her
  
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- AvengerK
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:44pm
  ban Nordstrom….
  
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- January12
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:49am
  I agree. If the Nordstrums wasn’t there, none of this would have happened. When, in God’s name, are we going to get serious about retail control? Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:21am
  ” H E E A A L L P P ! ! ! They wanna sprey me with the wrong PERFUME!! “
  
  Report this comment
SREGN
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:26pm
Hold on. The LA Swat Team had the store surrounded for four hours and the armed robbers escaped without firing a shot? That’s a whole new level of incompetence.

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- thej-rod
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:23pm
  I’ve got one better. Here’s a story of 12 hour “standoff” with no one apparently.
  
  http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-springfield-police-surround-home-looking-for-man-wanted-on-felony-warrant-20130111,0,3016990.story
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:43pm
  Don’t the SWAT use flashbangs anymore?
  
  Report this comment
Flag-Man
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:16pm
We now need
Penis Control
Knife Control

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truthnstuff
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:08pm
Why do they keep reporting on black criminals? is this just more racism? Are we really to believe that blacks are committing the crimes, rioting, attacking white citizens? (sarc)

There will be a backlash.

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- Iron_Wyll
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:21pm
  Did you see Bob Beckle on “The Five” yesterday? He complained that the producers showed a video of a riot at a school bus stop in Pittsburgh. He complained that if the rioters had been white, the video would not have been shown. Minorities’ bad behavior is being unfairly singled out.
  
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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:24pm
  Anytime you hear of a crime like this, a robbery, and the goons are distracted to the point of sexually assaulting someone during the commision thereof, 99.9999% of the time you can bet it black guys.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:42pm
  IRON: Bob is a typical Lefty: remember the female school bus monitor who was taunted and bullied ? Whites. Went viral. Hey, Bob : Maybe the reason there is publicity for black crime is because there is so much black crime to publicize. Well, except when the police act ” stupidly ” ( wink, wink )
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:45pm
  My comments will not go through today on the Blaze. Anyone else have this problem ?
  
  Report this comment
- THX-1138
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:53pm
  You mean a “Blacklash” don’t you?
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:54pm
  I’m very familiar with the Culver City area and the Hughes Center. It’s not the best of neighborhoods regardless of the “up market” nature of the complex. Vivendi-Universal had offices there as well as other big name companies.
  
  Report this comment
- Polyterdal
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 6:37pm
  But, what about THE DIRTY WAR? Is the Dept. of Justice faking this one?
  
  http://rense.com/general77/bvw.htm
  
  Report this comment
fgarvin
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:08pm
HE was sexually assualted. Honey you wish ! The only thing they robbed off you was control of your imagination!

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naughtycal
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:07pm
It’s time to ban all assault knives not one needs more than a 1/2 blade to open letters and boxes.

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banjarmon
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:45pm
Open Carry is the way to go!!

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- SREGN
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:43pm
  Why would you need a firearm to protect yourself when the police will protect you like they did here?
  
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rickinpa
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:44pm
This “joulnalsit is a little loose with word meanings – “…rescuing 14 workers…No robbers were found” If the robbers were gone recue is over stating things a bit moe like unlocked the door. And “SWAT members surrounded the location” well apparently not as the robbers got away. Maybe it’s just me…LOL

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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:25pm
  I know, how the hell did they get away?
  
  Report this comment
elosogrande
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:41pm
Any time there is a hostage situation, it should be treated like a kidnapping. If you are being held against your will, you have been kidnapped.

Want to solve this problem? Find them, prosectute them, anf if they’re guilty, execute them. Kidnapping, armed home or office invasion, sexual assault, child molestation, attempted murder and murder should all be capital crimes. If you screw up someone else’s life, you have to go; and you should go within six months of conviction.

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- naughtycal
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:13pm
  Exactly if we brought back the gallows for serious violent crimes then the thug life generation would come to a fast end. And make retroactive if you’re already in prison serve time for those types of crimes then your sentence get changed to death. Crime in America would drop dramaticly the so would the debt
  
  Report this comment
bikerdogred1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:39pm
Time to ban cops with no balls,why do they wait so long,what are they waiting for the coffee truck,if there is a problem take care of it then not hours down the line,I guess they will be giving out a box of medals for this screw up,they got away.

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- happ77
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:35pm
  Whatever happened to the idea of covering
  all exits ?
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:47pm
  They probably dislocated their shoulders while trying to pat themselves on the backs. They were seen high-fiveing each other they were so brave. Then, they all went out for beers. What cowardice.
  
  Report this comment
DREDGE
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:39pm
Wow! 14 workers! No customers? No old Calif bags with gallon jugs of mace?
A golden day for the blacks! I can see the bleeding heart “Whoopee” blaming the
“crackers” for the disproportioned wealth causing the poor black man to go out and rob.
Oh, and what was the justification for the sexual assault? Oh yeah, they are misunderstood
and had to do without something, so they have to take it out on someone.
I hope that guy’s mother ends up beaten and raped by someone with aids!!!!

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Bigmac1947
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:36pm
When they find the robbers, first thing to do is cut their dicks off. Teach them a lesson.

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Uechi
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:31pm
Time to ban kvives

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- Shasta
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:39pm
  Al Sharpton is way ahead of you and has already called for knife control (January 2nd this year).
  
  http://newsbusters.org/blogs/randy-hall/2013/01/02/al-sharpton-claims-knife-control-may-follow-restrictions-guns
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:14pm
  And all those damn zelda games that have desensatized people to sword damage.
  
  Report this comment
searching for the Truth
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:29pm
Wouldn’t it be more simple to just put a fence across the U.S. to separate the North from the South like Israel does – it works for them.

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LB
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:20pm
Ban stores so no-one can be robbed. Solved..

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- Link8on
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:56pm
  The have to ban robberies.
  
  Rename the town Mayberry .
  
  Sheriff Taylor and deputy Fife will keep order where the SWAT teams are not needed.
  
  Report this comment
Mapache
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:59am
The police cannot be everywhere…but armed civilians with a CCP can. Time that the no-gooks-worrying about us as much as we worry about them.

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- Smokepole
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:38pm
  CCP huh? Bull-squash!
  Ban the damn permits and carry freely!
  
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- EgbertThrockmorton
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:13pm
  You ARE aware that concealed weapons permits in Los Angeles county are ONLY given for political patronage? Mere citizens cannot get one.
  
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- themongoose
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 6:09pm
  you mean the thugs were illegally in possesion of those pistols?
  
  Shameful —- pass another law – that will teach em a lesson.
  
  Report this comment
Tri-ox
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:57am
The “robbers” magically escaped? Gee, that’s a little suspicious.

‘In campaign for tougher gun laws, Obama and allies work to tilt public opinion’

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-campaign-for-tougher-gun-laws-obama-and-allies-work-to-tilt-public-opinion/2013/01/09/64b07be0-5a8c-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_story.html

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- Jhn'1
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:54pm
  SWAT gave the thugs enough time to torture the store employees to reveal a way out.
  Whoever made the decision to wait needs to be demoted from a position able to make those decisions.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:44pm
  JHN,
  Correct, what cowards. I will bet you that if one of their wives or daughters were in there they would not be waiting for 4 hours before storming the place. More like 4 minutes. But, since it was somebody else’s family members, they take their sweet-ass time. Because they don’t want to get hurt.
  
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qpwillie
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:54am
Hmmm, two suspects with guns. One victim suffered a stab wound and one was sexually assaulted.

How do you stab somebody with a gun? ….. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask about the one who was sexually assaulted.

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:16pm
  It was in Calif, so you know who was assaulted.
  That many prisoners and not one of them could figure out what to do vs. the robbers????
  
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RaydocX
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:53am
but this is no problem, is it, Lefties…
no gun was used, just a knife.
and what is a rape… it’s just 30 seconds… not worth lethal response to the attacker.

what a crock of doodie, that anyone believes taking away guns will solve the problem of predation on the sheeple.

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barber2
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:50am
Well I am just glad the police didn’t do anything ” racist” with guns that Obama , Holder or their Lap Dog Media would object to ! Especially if anyone was wearing a blessed hoodie !

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Leslie Anne
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:49am
Was it a gun-free zone?

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- DougHuffman
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:18pm
  Yes. California is a Guns Free Zone.
  
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- griffer48
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:02pm
  A place where bad guys can freely brandish their fire arms, rape and pillage , then wave at the cops and go on their merry way
  
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Jezreel
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:46am
This is what our government is doing to American citizens. Hopefully, they will wake up.

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DougHuffman
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:46am
When seconds count the police are only minutes away.

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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:41pm
  Minutes hell, hours.
  
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4-The-Truth
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:46am
I bet this wouldn’t happen in Alaska, Arizona, Wyoming and Vermont where there is Concealed carry at 16 — with no permit.
I guess Obama care doesn’t want to pay for treating shot up robbers and rapist.

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- SiVisPacemParaBellum
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:09pm
  ^ The mall would most likely be a “Gun free Zone” So not LAW ABIDING CITIZEN Would have been there.
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:08pm
  Wisconsin has always been a Gold Star Open Carry State, but allowed extra-legal harassment of legally armed citizens.
  
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booger71
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:38am
Robbers Escape!!!!!!!!!!!!’
That is the headline grabber again. One again PAID POLICE” fail to protect an unarmed citizenry. Police carry guns primarily to protect themselves, not you

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- WillG
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:48am
  True.
  
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- Cavallo
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:56am
  Not to mentioned someone was STABBED.. we must ban knives! When will this horrible epidemic of knife culture be brought to account?!
  
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- Tachy320
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:07pm
  If you’re such a bad a– then you go stop the robbery. Every time the cops are mentioned some tough guy starts talking how dumb the cops are but never really gives a reason why they’re so dumb and you could do a better job. The people of LA voted for their lack of rights so the SWAT have to responses when they get robbed and taken hostage. Its not their fault. So why dont you just shut the hell up.
  
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- rickinpa
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:41pm
  @Tachy look I respect the police and appreciate they did their best but if the guys were in the store when they got there and if the place was truely surrounded then there is NO EXCUSE for letting them escape. Someone should be fired!
  
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- Cavallo
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:42pm
  That crap usually doesn’t happen where I live. Mostly because we have a high percentage of CCW holders. Most robberies are late night gas station clerks who have company policies against carrying weapons. Every so often there is a home invasion but 50% of the time the robber gets shot. So, yeah, if it happens where I am I certainly will stop the robbery. Everywhere that seems to have a high crime rate also seems to have lots of extra gun laws. Doesn’t seem to help them much does it?
  
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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:58pm
  Tachy,
  I bet you wouldn’t so quick with the tough-guy slams if it was your wife, daughter, sister or mother in there getting a hole dug in their butts by some black goon. There are many guys on this site that would not have waited 4 hours to storm the joint. I wouldn’t have waited. As long as it is somebody else’s family members being raped, they take their sweet-ass time. Also, if it was 2 white creeps they would have got one in the pumpkin within 10 minutes. But, since they were members of the protected class, they were treated with kid gloves. They don’t want to be accused of using excessive force against Obama and Holders brothers.
  
  Report this comment
- chicago76
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:49pm
  Standard police procedure. Protect themselves first and then everyone else. When riots happen standard procedure is to stay clear, and let the rioters do whatever they want, and if someone tries to assist those being hurt by the rioters, you arrest the people trying to help. Just the way it is. Maybe people should start asking this question of the police, “If you are not going to do anything, and you won’t let anyone else do anything, then shouldn’t we hold you responsible for whatever bad outcome occurs.”
  
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