Timothy Maher, an administrative judge at the Miami Social Security Administration office held three family members hostages for 10 hours in an armed standoff with Miami-Dade police. The standoff ended with Maher dead and the hostages unharmed.

According to the Daily Business Review, Maher was arrested last week after someone in the family reached out to police by late-night text asking for help. Unfortunately, that intervention was apparently unsuccessful and Maher returned with a rifle today. From Daily Business Review’s account:

It wasn’t initially clear who the hostage taker was, but according to CBS Miami, onlookers heard police negotiators address the man as “Tim” and “your honor.”

The Miami New Times reports that Maher’s troubles were mounting before this standoff.

It’s clear Maher, age 51, had been struggling through a personal issue for the past week. On August 15, Village of El Portal Police rushed to his home after his ex-girlfriend reported that he had pointed a gun and a rifle at both her and their children. As Maher sat outside in his car, his ex-girlfriend said, he repeatedly pointed weapons at her through the vehicle’s window and said he was “going to show her what pain is about.” Maher had reportedly dated the woman for four years before the pair split in April. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, child abuse, and resisting arrest without violence.

Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security shut down the federal building where he worked after employees claimed Maher had threatened to kill them.

Again, thankfully the hostages are safe.

Federal Judge Kills Himself in Standoff With Police [Daily Business Review]

Miami Judge Reportedly Dead After SWAT Standoff, Weeklong Meltdown [Miami New Times]

Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.