On Friday, October 10, 2025, the Abilene Police Department SWAT Team responded to assist the Callahan County Sheriff’s Office in a hostage situation in Clyde, Texas. Earlier that morning, Callahan County deputies had been called to a residence following an alleged assault. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the suspect was refusing to allow the adult victim and her two children to leave the home.
Around 4 a.m., Callahan County deputies requested additional support, prompting APD to send both its SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Team to the scene. Negotiators engaged with the suspect for several hours, attempting to secure a peaceful resolution.
As the situation escalated, the SWAT team implemented a carefully planned rescue operation. The operation was successful, resulting in the safe extraction of all three victims. The adult victim was transported for medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries sustained during the assault, while her children were unharmed.
The suspect, 39-year-old Aaron Matthew Garza, was taken into custody by Callahan County deputies. He has been charged with aggravated kidnapping with use as a hostage, interfering with an emergency request for assistance, and assault/family violence. Garza’s bond has been set at $251,000.
Authorities praised the coordination and professionalism demonstrated by all involved agencies, noting that the combined efforts of SWAT, crisis negotiators, and Callahan County deputies were critical in ensuring the safety of the victims.
