BALLINGER, TX — At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, a women took her child and barricaded herself in a residence near the intersection of 5th Street and Eubank in Ballinger. Police said she texted a photo of a pistol to the father of the child. According to police, she wasn’t threatening the child but did threaten police. She also said she would harm herself.
The Ballinger Police Department, with assistance from the Runnels County Sheriff, Texas Rangers and Abilene Police Department’s SWAT team began negotiations that continued into the evening hours. At around dinnertime, the mother said her child was hungry and wanted chick strips and macaroni and cheese from the local Golden Chick. Food was delivered and a short time later, police were able to negotiate for the mother to hand over her child.
The child was described as a “small child” and the age and gender was not released to us, however a citizen from Ballinger following the situation said the child was a boy.
Just before 10 p.m. the mother gave up and the stand-off ended with no shots fired and no one injured.
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Hostage negotiation is one area that the Texas Rangers are highly trained in. Johhny Aycock, a San Angelo born and bred retired Ranger was awarded two of the five Medals of Valor awarded to a Ranger since it became part of the DPS. Aycock was involved in two Hostage situations that resulted in recieving the Valor Medals. Aycock later was George Bush's head of security while he was Governor and George Strait's head of security after retirement. Bush flew to Austin to present Aycock with a letter of recognition at his retirement. San Angelo was the home of another Medal of Valor Ranger, Danny Rhea. Ranger Rhea was awarded the Valor Medal for actions in a Hostage situation. He passed away in 2018 after living out his retirement in the city. No hostages were harmed but one Ranger and both hostage takers were killed. You might ask if I have a problem with having a retired Ranger as county Sheriff, well don't.
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