Police: Dispute over hot dogs led to standoff in Florida

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A Florida man involved in a standoff with police Thursday pulled a gun on relatives in an apparent dispute over cooking hot dogs, according to a police report made public Friday.

Officers were initially called shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday to a reported domestic assault. A woman and a young girl were able to escape when Lamar Brooks, 24, pulled a gun and made threats, the report said.

When officers arrived, they were told that Brooks was barricaded inside the home. The woman told investigators that she and Brooks were arguing Thursday morning when he grabbed a gun and started walking around the apartment, saying, “I can cook whatever I want.”

Officers attempted to contact Brooks by phone but learned that he had managed to get out of the home. The West Palm Beach Hostage and Crisis Negotiator Team responded to the scene and was able to make contact with Brooks, the report said.

Brooks reportedly told officers he was still in the home and did not want to come out. However, an anonymous source informed the officers that Brooks was actually seen standing in front of an apartment building a few blocks away.

Police deployed the drone and were able to catch Brooks climbing out of a parked car, the report said. Officers arrested Brooks on charges of false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He remained in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail early Saturday in lieu of $50,000 bail.

After being taken into custody, Brooks reportedly admitted that he had a gun. He allegedly told officers that the argument started because he was hungry and wanted to boil some dogs. He was told to cook them in the microwave instead. Brooks said he ignored the request and continued to prepare the hot dogs on the stove top, the report said.

Brooks claimed that the woman grabbed the pot and threw it on the floor. Officers say the pot was still on the stove with water still inside it when they entered the home.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer