Highland Park man charged with holding 4 children captive during standoff with police

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – A 21-year-old Highland Park man is charged with holding four children captive during a standoff with police earlier this week.

James Gist was allegedly armed when he fled police Monday and jumped through the window of a home in the 60 block of Grove Street.

Police said the homeowner got out of the house when he realized what was happening, but four children -- ages 9 months to 9 years old -- were left in the upstairs of the home.

Gist allegedly held the children captive while police tried to coax him out. He eventually came out of the house carrying the 9-month-old as a shield, police said.

No one was hurt during the incident.

Gist is charged with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, home invasion, carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm and removing a tether. He's scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning.

Last year, Gist was charged with biting a Macomb County deputy during a confrontation over shoplifting.