(10/27/06) WEST BABYLON - Suffolk police say a routine traffic stop by officers turned into a wild car chase that ended with a brief, yet frightening hostage situation.

Police say 29-year-old George Allen sped away after police pulled him over in a stolen pickup truck. The car chase that ensued spanned Little East Neck Road and Montauk Highway. Witnesses say Allen crashed in front of 400 Montauk Highway, ran around the building and hopped a fence. Retired New York City firefighter John Webber, now an attorney, had his second-floor door open when he says Allen entered and locked the door behind him. After being ordered to swap clothes with Allen, Webber says he instead tried to defuse the situation. Suffolk police stormed the office shortly thereafter.

Although police say Allen threatened Webber with a gun, no weapon was found on the suspect. Police are holding Allen at the West Babylon precinct, where he awaits processing on several charges.