Hostage Rescued After Sending Message for Help via Pizza Hut App [Video]

A woman used the Pizza Hut app on Monday to send a message for help after being held hostage at knifepoint by her boyfriend, reports Highlands Country Sheriff's Office in Florida.

Pizza Hut received an order at 3:40 PM with a message in the comments section asking them to call 911. Employees recognized the order as being from a frequent customer; however the comments were out of the ordinary so they called the authorities.

Arriving at the home, police were greeted by a female, Cheryl Treadway, carrying a small child in her arms. She indicated that her boyfriend, Ethan Nickerson, was in the home with her other two children and armed with a knife. After escorting Treadway to safety, Lieutenant Curtis Ludden began to speak with Nickerson through the closed door of the home. After about 20 minutes, Ludden was able to talk him into coming out peacefully.


According to the arrest report, the couple had been arguing throughout the day while Mr. Nickerson carried a large knife. When Ms. Treadway attempted to leave the residence to pick up the children from school, Mr. Nickerson grabbed her and took her cell phone. He then accompanied Ms. Treadway to pick up the children. Upon returning home, Ms. Treadway eventually convinced Mr. Nickerson to let her use the cell phone to order a pizza which is when she sent the message to Pizza Hut. Immediately after the pizza order was placed, Mr. Nickerson took the cell phone back from her.
As a result of these events, Ethan Earl Nickerson, 26 years of age, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon without intent to kill, battery, false imprisonment and obstructing justice by depriving communication to law enforcement.

A photo of the Pizza Hut order can be seen below. It reads, "Please help. Get 911 to me" and "911hostage help!".

Read More [via WFLA] [via ArsTechnica]



[Flash]