A hostage standoff ended peacefully at a Plainfield bank Tuesday afternoon, with the gunman releasing all four hostages within about three and a half hours.
Police said Edward Binert, 34, of Romeoville entered the First National Bank of Illinois with a semiautomatic handgun around 1 p.m. in a robbery attempt. Binert took hostages after an employee pressed a silent alarm, officials said.
After negotiations with a SWAT team, Binert released two hostages about two hours after the standoff began, said Fred Hayes, Joliet deputy police chief. A female bank employee was released about an hour later.
More Top Picks Water Jugs
Binert released the fourth hostage shortly before surrendering around 4:30 p.m., Hayes said.
Will County State’s Atty. Jeff Tomczak said Binert will be charged with federal bank robbery Wednesday.