Man Who Took Teen Hostage Had Recently Violated Parole
ARVADA, Colo. (CBS4) - Family members of a career criminal who held a teen hostage and was killed by police on Tuesday say his death didn't have to happen.
The hostage situation started on Monday night at a home in Arvada near 60th and Gray Street and ended 18 hours later when police shot and killed Don Pooley, 34.
Family members told CBS4 that on Monday night Pooley had a loud argument with his girlfriend. When neighbors called police, he panicked and ran to a stranger's home nearby. The teenager, a 13-year-old boy, was inside.
"His intentions were never to hurt this family, this kid or anything. His intentions were just to flee," Pooley's sister Shawna Pooley said.
Pooler was in communication with police during part of the standoff.
"Pooley made numerous threats throughout the 18 hour negotiations that he was going to shoot and kill the hostage," Arvada police spokeswoman Jill McGranahan said.
Shawna told CBS4 that Pooley and the teenager he was holding hostage played video games and talked. She was on the phone with her brother as officers delivered food to the house. She heard it when he was shot and killed after he stepped outside the home.
"They tackled him, had control of him and then they shot him. One single shot. He didn't have a gun," Shawna said.
SWAT officers carried the boy to safety after gunning down Pooley. The teen was not harmed.
Some families that were evacuated from nearby homes were allowed to return home later in the day on Tuesday.
Police are conducting an investigation into the case.
Pooley had recently been released from prison and had already violated patrol.
"He would refuse to grow up. He's been in jail pretty much all of his life. But it was never violent crime. He has never hurt anyone," Shawna said.
His criminal past included arrests in forgery and drug possession cases.
"My son is not violent. My son had the biggest heart in the whole world," Pooley's mother Debbie Balducci said.
