Woman arrested for alleged hostage hoax

MARGARETTA TWP. — A Sandusky woman is facing charges after demanding money from a Margaretta Township business. Just after 6 p.m., on Thursday, Erie County deputies were called to a restaurant in the 3500 block of Tiffin Ave. (Ohio 101) for a report of a possible hostage situation. A 33-year-old Sandusky woman purportedly passed a note to a restaurant employee that said a man was in her car threatening to kill her daughter, according to Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth. The note said the woman needed money from the store to give to the man or he would kill the child. When the employee took the note to a manager, the woman fled, Sigsworth said. Employees were able to provide a possible name due to the woman recently applying for a job. The employees were then able to pick the woman out of a photo array. Detectives found the woman at her home where she reportedly admitted to writing and passing the note. She also told investigators that there was no gunman and she was the only person in the car, Sigsworth said. She was arrested and taken to Erie County Jail on misdemeanor charges of inducing panic and attempted theft.