WARREN, Ohio - The suspect in the hostage situation that took place for more than two hours at the Highland Terrace Apartments is in police custody.

That man, 25-year-old Shawn Michael Riley, allegedly held three young girls, believed to be his daughters, and a woman police believe is his girlfriend, and the mother of those children hostage with a knife after a domestic incident.

Riley gave himself over to police around 8 p.m. after barricading himself in the apartment when the children and woman were released. 

Captain Jeff Cole, Warren Police Department, said the preliminary charges against Riley include at least one count of kidnapping and that the department will meet with the county prosecutor tomorrow to decide if additional charges will be brought.

Cole went on to praise the department's handling of the situation. 

"A peaceful resolution here with the negotiations. Our negotiators did an excellent job, our tactical guys did an excellent job, no use of force whatsoever, and that's a big plus for this type of situation," Cole said.

Mayor Doug Franklin confirmed that all three children and a woman, police believe is Riley's girlfriend, and the mother of the children had safely been removed from the apartment around 7 p.m.

Police say the children were unharmed and are with grandparents and that the woman was sent to receive some minor medical treatment and suffered some bruising. Police believe an assault took place. 

A neighbor, Jacquelin Gore, said she was very proud of the responding officers and doesn't like to see these kinds of things happening in her community. 

Mayor Franklin said that he is proud of the department and all of the law enforcement community on how they responded. 

"We're very fortunate because this could have had a different result. Fortunately, the kids are safe, the mother is being checked out at the hospital, and the suspect is in custody. From that standpoint, this was a successful reaction to a volatile situation," said Franklin.

A Trumbull County dispatcher tells 21 News a hostage situation involving children unfolded at a Warren apartment complex Tuesday night. 

Dispatchers say the incident began on Highland Avenue at around 4:30 p.m. 

A SWAT team was on the scene as of 6:20 p.m.