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One Injured In Bridgewater Hostage Situation

By Kelly Jasper

BRIDGEWATER — Police responded to a failed homicide-suicide plot Tuesday afternoon, pressing a South Carolina man with nine felony charges after he attempted to kill the mother of his son and a Bridgewater police officer, police officials said.

The suspect surrendered after a standoff at the victim’s townhouse, they said.

Police said the woman was being treated at Rockingham Memorial Hospital Tuesday night but a hospital coordinator said no one was admitted to the hospital using the victim’s name. Police asked the newspaper not to disclose the name of the woman and her son’s name to protect the boy’s privacy.

Police would not say how the victim was injured, but charged Jack Audrel Watson with malicious wounding, said Sgt. Vince Harlow of the Bridgewater Police Department.

Standoff Begins

Police arrived at the townhouse at 133 Cindie Lane at about 3 p.m., sectioning off the yard and home with yellow police tape.

Witnesses near the scene say they heard shots fired between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Police say the situation involved a firearm, but Harlow said he couldn’t comment if shots were fired.

Watson, 54, of Dillon, S.C., was apprehended after police negotiated an end to the standoff, Harlow said.

Until the investigation is completed, Harlow said the charges will tell as much of the story as police are willing to provide.

Watson was charged with breaking and entering into the townhouse. Police also charged him with attempted first-degree murder and malicious wounding. Watson also was charged with attempting to abduct his son, a 12-year-old living in Bridgewater with his mother, according to police.

Watson and the victim had been in a relationship for 12 years, Harlow said. They were not married.

Before the standoff ended, Watson attempted to murder a Bridgewater police officer working the scene with a firearm, Harlow said. Watson was charged with attempted murder of an officer.

The officer was uninjured, Harlow said. Police also pressed several firearm charges.

Watson was held without bond at the Rockingham County Jail Tuesday night awaiting a bond hearing this morning.

Man Leaves Suicide Letters

At about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a man believed to be Watson called the Daily News-Record, saying he was in the middle of a “homicide-suicide” situation.

The man e-mailed the newspaper suicide letters, which he asked be mailed to his mother and a mental health facility he says would not treat him.

In the letters, he details his troubled home life and custody battles over his son.

Police Thankful Situation Resolved

Police closed Mount Crawford Avenue for more than an hour as police set up a command post near Cindie Lane and worked to deescalate the situation.

“We’re just thankful it worked out like this,” Harlow said. “No one from our side was hurt” and the victim was spared.

By 4 p.m. the road was open and kids played out on the street just yards down the block.

The Dayton Police and Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Bridgewater Police Department.