Administrative law judge kills himself after hostage standoff, police say
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An administrative law judge who reviewed Social Security disability cases shot and killed himself Friday morning after a 10-hour standoff with police in South Florida.
The judge, Timothy Maher, did not harm his three hostages before killing himself, police told the Miami Herald. Though the hostages weren’t identified, a police source told the newspaper that the hostages were the brother of Maher’s ex-wife, along with the brother’s wife and their 13-year-old daughter. CBS, the Associated Press, the South Florida Sun Sentinel and Miami New Times also have coverage.
Maher was arrested last week on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, child abuse with no great bodily harm and resisting arrest without violence. He was charged after the mother of their son said that, when she came to Maher’s home to pick up the child, he verbally abused her and pointed a rifle at her car as she drove away. Police said Maher was hiding when they arrived.
Maher hid from police a second time last week when they came to his home to seize his weapons.
The office where Maher works was shut down Tuesday and Wednesday after a worker received a threat. Police were investigating whether Maher was the suspect.
