Grand Island man arrested after barricading three women in basement, police say

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Three women are now safe after police say a Grand Island man had them barricaded in a basement on Christmas Eve. 

A police news release said officers were dispatched after a 911 call around 1:00 p.m. One of the victims had called to tell police that Rudy Perez, who was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants, was inside the house.

After officers arrived, a woman broke a basement window and told police that Perez had barricaded the basement door and wouldn’t let them out. 

The release said officers breached the front door after Perez didn't follow commands to leave the home. They deployed pepper balls but police said they showed no effect on him.

One woman and a four-year-old were able to get out through the basement window and the other woman escaped through the barricaded stairwell. 

Perez is now in custody and has been charged with obstruction, false imprisonment and intentional abuse without injury.