Police: Standoff with Fla. man ends when he awakes from drunken stupor

(CBS) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A police standoff with a man thought to be holding his wife hostage ended when the suspect finally responded to officers - after waking up from an alcohol-induced stupor.

CBS Tampa reports police arrived at the residence of Norman Brewster, 74, in response to a domestic dispute call just before 7 a.m. Sunday.

When they arrived at the scene, Brewster's stepdaughter Jessica told them the elderly man had been drinking and aiming a loaded shotgun at her. Jessica Brewster reportedly lives at the residence with her mother, boyfriend and four young children.

Brewster allegedly told the family he wanted them to leave, and threatened to shoot them if they refused.

Most of the family left the house at that point but the suspect's wife, 81-year-old Myrtle Brewster, decided to stay.

Authorities waited outside, trying to initiate contact with the pair using phone calls, air horns and concussion grenades.

Finally, at 2:30 in the afternoon, Norman Brewster answered his phone, then left the house with his wife of his own volition. He was unarmed.

It was thought that a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills rendered Brewster unconscious for the entire duration of the "standoff."

There were no injuries, but a reported 50 officers were occupied by the incident.