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Anthony Alvarez, 25, is holding his female cousin’s 16-month-old baby boy, Michael Pittman Jr., hostage inside a downstairs apartment in the Arden Towne complex between Arden and Wright street in Sacramento.

According to his sister, Tessa Alvarez, her brother suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. She said her brother was not taking his antipsychotic medication which helps him to not hear voices. In addition, she offered to go inside the apartment to get her brother to surrender, but that was deemed too dangerous.

According to Sacramento County Sheriff Department Sgt. Tim Curran, there was a number of gunfire exchanges between the suspect and police, but it was not yet determined if Alvarez was hit. A sniper fired at Alvarez at 9 a.m. but missed.

According to police and the SWAT team, they have not heard any noise for several hours regarding the toddler. At this point it cannot be determined if the baby is still alive.

Alvarez is also wanted in connection with three bank robberies in the Bay Area, a shooting at an officer in Concord during a traffic stop and a possible homicide in San Francisco.

Alvarez’s sister stated on KCRA Channel 3 that the family loves him and wants him to know that they are in this together and “will get through this, and everything will be OK.”

Updates for this story will be written in the comment section for this article.

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Sherrie Tyler

edited on June 10, 2010 | 6:59 PM

As of 6:30p.m.June 10th, it was determined that the toddler is still alive. Thank goodness. This hostage situation has been going on for over thirty hours now. It has been reported that the suspect has been shot in the arm and has a head injury. Arden way remains shut down from Fulton ave. and Bell street. Use Alta Arden Expressway as an alternative route.

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thsas

June 10, 2010 | 8:18 PM

This is the less traditional spelling of Mentally?

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Casey Kirk

June 10, 2010 | 11:17 PM

Thanks, thsas, the error is fixed.

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Sherrie Tyler

June 10, 2010 | 10:10 PM

At the 35th hour still no change in the stand off between Alvarez and police. The toddler was last seen at 8:12. thursday night. Lets hope and pray that this ends soon and the child is ok.

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Ron

June 11, 2010 | 5:56 AM

Is this guy an illegal?

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Sherrie Tyler

edited on June 11, 2010 | 12:39 PM

...it has not been reported at this time if he is or not.

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Sherrie Tyler

June 11, 2010 | 12:18 PM

Alvarez is still holding his baby cousin hostage at this hour and it is believed the toddler is ok. Also, it was reported that Alvarez was shot in the arm and sustained a head injury, however, this may be untrue.

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katcamp

June 11, 2010 | 4:24 PM

I learned more in this article than on the news. I hope this ends soon and the baby is safe and returned to its mother.

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Sherrie Tyler

edited on June 11, 2010 | 5:28 PM

At around 4pm today food and water was delivered via robot to Alvarez . At this time the toddler is believed to still be alive. According to Sgt. Curran they will wait as long as necessary . The welfare of the child is their greatest concern. In an interview with Alvarez's mother on Wednesday shortly after this hostage situation began,said that her son via phone conversation said he was worried about being shot if he surrendered. In an interview later she said that Alvarez is still her son and she loves him although his actions do have consequences...and hopes this ordeal ends soon.

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Sherrie Tyler

edited on June 11, 2010 | 8:10 PM

Hostage situation OVER! 16th month old child is ok and was rushed to UC Davis Med Center for observation . According to Sacramento County Sheriff John Mcginness, the toddler , Michael Pittman Jr. appears to be fine. The suspect 26 year old Alvarez is in grave danger after being shot at by Sheriff Deputies who saw an opening to apprehend the suspect and free the child.

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sue1949

June 13, 2010 | 11:30 AM

its sad that one has to do such terrible things to others .now only family has to deal with the loss now of ,MR ALVEREZ , AT LEAST THE BABY CAN BE BACK WITH ITS MOTHER AND NOT REMEMBER A THING

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Shelley

June 14, 2010 | 11:52 PM

Sue1949- Alvarez's family isn't the only one still dealing with this tragedy. The police officers and their families will have to deal with this situation for a very long time. I am related to the officer that was hurt saving the baby. His family is suffering a great deal over this situation and the fact that he very easily could have lost his life in this situation. I hope that we don't forget that the officers that went into that apartment that day are truly heroes!

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Sherrie Tyler

edited on June 12, 2010 | 10:13 AM

Sacramento County Sheriff Mcginness confirmed to KCRA channel 3 that Anthony Alvarez has died from his injuries from the SWAT team.

This standoff which began at 11:30am wednesday started when Alvaraz who is from San Francisco and is a wanted man saw a police officer and pulled his 16 month old cousin inside the Sacramento apartment. Several adults fled the apartment and a four year old child was rescued from a rear window.

It is not known at this time how long Alvarez had been off his antipsychotic medication or why he stopped taking it.

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sue1949

June 13, 2010 | 11:22 AM

was mr. alverez shot how did they take him out of the apartment

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Sherrie Tyler

June 13, 2010 | 5:53 PM

Sue, at 4pm June 11th, via robot they tried to give Alvarez food and water and he did not take it. At that point it was determined that Alvarez was not properly caring for the child. Also, he was staying in a small hallway where the SWAT team could not see him or the baby.So, around 7:50pm on June 11th, the SWAT team went through a wall in the apartment and had eye contact with Alverez who began shooting at the officers. They shot back and were able to safely retrieve the child. Deputy Mayes carried the baby to safety. Alvarez died from his injuries. The SWAT team had permission from Sacramento County Sheriff Mcginness to use deadly force if they saw an opportunity. The Brave SWAT team did just that and thank God the baby is ok and the 56 hour long hostage standoff ended.

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hula57

June 14, 2010 | 9:52 AM

How sad that it had to come to that .................. It will be interesting to find out why he stopped taking his meds. And how he had access to his toddler cousin.

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Sherrie Tyler

June 14, 2010 | 10:02 AM

In a phone interview with KCRA channel 3 it is not known at this time why he wasn't on his medication. It could be several reasons such as with the mental health clinics closing that he didn't have access to his meds, couldn't afford his meds or doesn't like the side effects of his antipsychotic medication. I am very happy that the child was rescued but I wonder if Alvarez wouldn't have benefited from something like Laura's Law which I wrote about today and is posted on Sacramento Press.

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Sherrie Tyler

edited on June 15, 2010 | 8:02 AM

Shelley, thanks for your input...the officers were very brave in this tragic situation and I in no way condone Anthony Alvarez's behaviour. I agree with you...the officers involved are going to have to deal with this situation for a long time. Unfortunately Alvarez was mentally ill and this does not excuse his behaviour, but does shed a different light on the situation.

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sue1949

June 21, 2010 | 5:29 PM

sorry if i didnt ask about the officers involved,and yes they did a great job saving the baby ,and making sure others were not hurt in this hostage situation. The officers that were there did a great job .bless all the officers and their familys. if we didnt have law enforesment ,matters wuld be worse

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Sherrie Tyler

edited on June 29, 2010 | 1:32 PM

I wanted to add that the Sheriff department bought some new furniture for the Pittman family (whose apartment was destroyed during the hostage stand off.) And it was reported that Anthony Alvarez was in a court ordered treatment for his mental illness but failed to report to his hearing before his illegal activities escalated.

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chrisalvarez707

April 24, 2011 | 6:10 PM

This was my cousin and one of my best friends, his father was mentally ill too and had commited suicide while anthony was a young boy. Anthony was not a criminal or bad person he was always happy, nice and new how to cheer anybody up. I cry everyday that this had too happen I lived with anthony from 4th grade till about a year before this happend and I'm 18. Yes michael the 16 month old is my cousin as well and so is his mother and I know for a fact the mother is not mad at him because she has a brand new rest in peace anthony alvarez tatoo on her foot now jus weeks after it happend.. so don't think because of the circumstances of this situation that are family was angerd at him for doing this to my baby cousin, no ! We knew he wasn't goin to hurt him we knew ant was just very scared. And btw the sherriffs did all the shooting and none of the negotiations.. while when the local police did there 8 hour shift they did try to negotiate, how do I know u probably ask? Because I was sitting there with an fbi agent in my house with my father grandmother and mom while my dad negotiated with anthony.. oh btw we were way in hawaii where anthony spent a few years with us.. bet the press didn't release that huh

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