NATCHEZ  — Natchez Police responded to a hostage situation Thursday morning in which a man was allegedly holding a woman at gunpoint against her will.

Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of West Stiers Lane at approximately 9 a.m. Thursday, said Walter Armstrong, Natchez Chief of Police.

Upon arrival, officers began to secure the area while awaiting back up from the Natchez Police Investigative Unit and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT Team, Armstrong said.

“Just before additional units started arriving, the victim managed to escape out of the house and within a few minutes, the suspect surrendered to law enforcement,” Armstrong said. “The ordeal was resolved within 5 to 10 minutes of calling 911.”

Armstrong said the investigation revealed that the victim and suspect had been at one point in a dating relationship.

“The investigation revealed that the suspect had picked up the victim up at her residence and took her to his residence where both indulged in beer, crack cocaine, and marijuana,” Armstrong said. “The victim related that the arguing began around 1:30 a.m. Thursday when the suspect started accusing the victim of sleeping with other people,” Armstrong said. “The initial investigation revealed that the suspect then started to assault the victim which led to the suspect sexually assaulting the victim.”

Armstrong said the victim told officers that the suspect calmed down after the sun started to rise and eventually fell asleep.

“That is when she got his phone and sent a text message to a friend requesting help,” Armstrong said.

The suspect, who had not been charged at press time Thursday and therefore is not being named in this story, could be facing charges of kidnapping, domestic aggravated assault and sexual assault, Armstrong said.