Missing Family - 2 or 3 children - Albertville (NW of Gadsden) AL

Albertville police are searching for an Albertville family to ensure their safety
following a five-hour standoff Monday.

Albertville Police Chief Benny Womack said dispatchers received a call Monday
morning requesting officers help her remove an unwanted guest at 1013
Compton Ave. Upon arrival, officers discovered the address given was the
wrong home and the woman inside had not called officers.

They then proceeded to 1003, the correct home as described by the caller.
Womack said the 1003 Compton Ave. house was also marked as 1013 Compton Ave.

“There is the possibility when we responded to the original
address the individual gave us that the person we were seeking left,” Womack said.

During the original call for help, Womack said the
female caller said the man had made threats toward her and against any
police that responded to the scene.

“We were told by her that she had locked herself in a bedroom
while she waited for police,” Womack said. He said the caller also
alluded to two or three children being in the home with her.

“We made every effort to determine if
someone was in the house or not. We wanted to make sure no harm came to
the children if they were in fact in the house,” he said.

“We want to be very clear that we had to keep the safety of those in the
house and in the neighboring homes, as well as our officers, in mind. We
didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

The decision was made to raid
the home after determining the male suspect, Josh Parker, had several
outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants, had made threats against
responding officers, and had a very violent past history, according to Womack.

SWAT team members entered the home late Monday afternoon, finding no one at home.

“We don’t know if the woman and the children are fine,” Womack said.

“We are doing our best to locate them right now. If we don’t find them soon, we will issue an Amber alert on the children.”

Womack said officers are searching for Parker, possibly driving a turquoise
Dodge Intrepid sedan. He may be in the company of a female and two or three children.

Anyone with information about the family should
call Albertville police at 256-878-1212, the detective division at
256-891-8274 or Womack at 256-891-8221.

Albertville Police Look For Suspect In Apparent Hostage Situation
Police are also looking for woman, children who may have been involved

Robert Richardson WHNT News 19 Sand Mountain Bureau Reporter

8:44 AM CDT, August 24, 2010
Joshua Adam Parker

Joshua Adam Parker (Albertville Police Department)
ALBERTVILLE, AL - Albertville Police spent the better part of their day at what they thought was a hostage situation. They continue to look for the suspect in the situation, Joshua Adam Parker, as well as a woman and her children.

Police say they got a call Monday morning to the west side of Albertville for an unwanted person inside a home. The woman claimed she was trapped in her home and that a man was threatening her and any officers who came to her aid.

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Police responded, but the woman gave them the wrong street number. The SWAT team arrived and realized they were at someone else's home. A second call led them to the correct home, but the SWAT team found no one inside.

"We made a normal dynamic entry, the SWAT team did, and cleared the house," Chief Benny Womack said.

"We made sure there was no one in the home, as well as the attic, searched it very thoroughly, and we're satisfied no one was there."

Police say Parker also has a felony warrant out for his arrest for a robbery earlier this year. He is described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighing about 200 pounds.

Chief Womack says Parker has a history of being violent and resisting arrest, and Womack warned people to be cautious if they see him.

Police are also concerned they can't locate the woman who called them, identified as Mariel Lopez. She is described as being 5' 5", and weighing about 185 pounds. Her children are reportedly missing as well.

Albertville Police have a number of officers working the case and hope the public will help them locate Parker, Lopez and her children.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Albertville Police Department at (256) 878-1212.
http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-albertville-joshua-parker-wanted-082310,0,5792668.story?track=rss

Police: Albertville hostage call a hoax

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Aug 25, 2010 4:01 AM



ALBERTVILLE, AL (WAFF) - Albertville police are searching for a man they thought was holding a woman hostage in Albertville.

The SWAT team surrounded a home on Compton Avenue Monday afternoon.

Someone called the police station and said a
man was holding a woman hostage. Officers have found the reported victim
and believe this to be a hoax.

Investigators said the man in question is Joshua Adam Parker Police said has an outstanding felony warrant and a violent past.

If you have any information please call Albertville Police.

Police search for caller who caused standoff
Published August 26, 2010

Albertville police officials have found the woman at the center of a five-hour standoff Monday and report she is unharmed.

Chief Benny Womack said Mariel Lopez has been found and interviewed by police.

“She has stated she was not the original caller,” Womack said. “At this point, we believe that is true.”

Officers
responded to a call at 1003 Compton Ave. at about 10 a.m. Monday after a
woman called stating she was being held against her will in the home.
She reported a Josh Parker was threatening her and promised to kill any
police officers responding to the scene.

Fearing for the safety
of Lopez and children purported to also be in the home, the Albertville
SWAT team stormed the home but found no one inside.

Womack said
Parker had a violent history and currently has outstanding felony and
misdemeanor warrants pending against him, forcing the officers to make a
tough decision.

“We certainly didn’t want to go in there
unwarranted. We did everything we could to ensure no harm came to any
children that may have been in the home,” Womack said.

Authorities have searched for Parker and the woman who made the original call.

Parker is described as a white male driving a turquoise Dodge Intrepid. He may be traveling in the company of a woman.