Bleach, hatchet, garbage bag order leads to freed hostage

A hostage freed from a Texas hotel room this week has a perceptive delivery driver and an astute hotel manager to thank for saving their life.

Officers with the Sweetwater Police Department said they responded to the Sweetwater Inn Monday shortly before noon, after receiving a call about a suspicious delivery made to Neil Cooper, 42.

Cooper ordered garbage bags, zip ties, bleach and a hatchet using a delivery app, police said.

The driver told the hotel manager about the suspicious items, prompting the call to police.

Cooper allegedly barricaded himself inside the room, and claimed to have a gun.

“While officers worked to establish communication, the individual believed to be a hostage was able to safely escape the motel room,” according to a Sweetwater Police statement. “A crisis negotiator from the Texas Department of Public Safety arrived on scene and successfully negotiated Cooper’s peaceful surrender.”

Cooper was charged with aggravated kidnapping, and had active warrants for drug offenses.

“The individual initially reported as a hostage was also taken into custody,” according to the statement, which fails to name Cooper’s alleged captive.

The hostage, who also had a warrant out for their arrest, is accused of refusing to identify themselves to authorities.