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Texas hostage crisis resolved after delivery driver reports order
The alleged kidnapper and the alleged hostage were both safely taken into police custody on drug charges.
Published September 25, 2025 at 3:31pm by Alexis Simmerman
Sweetwater police responded to a suspected hostage situation Monday, reported by a delivery driver.
A hostage situation in Texas was thwarted by an unlikely hero: a delivery driver.
Sweetwater police say they were alerted to a "suspicious" delivery order for a motel around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 22. The contents of the order have not yet been confirmed by officials, but witnesses told local news they included trash bags, zip ties, bleach and a hatchet.
Police arrived at the motel to find Neil Cooper, 42, barricaded inside a room. He claimed he was armed and would not leave the room, according to a Sweetwater Police Department news release. Officers had reason to believe a possible hostage was in the room with Cooper and "worked to establish communication."
A department spokesperson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the alleged hostage safely escaped the room when Cooper went into the bathroom.
A Texas Department of Public Safety crisis negotiator joined the responding officers and "successfully negotiated Cooper's peaceful surrender." Cooper was arrested and charged with one count of Aggravated Kidnapping, a first-degree felony. He also had two active warrants for drug charges from the Snyder Police Department.
The person believed to be the hostage was also arrested and charged with Failure to Identify and one drug charge, which also involved an active warrant from Snyder PD. The individual's identity was not released as of Thursday morning.
Delivery driver praised for foiling hostage situation
The unnamed delivery driver has been commended for their role in busting the hostage situation, evident by comments on Sweetwater PD's Facebook post.
"Good job [delivery] person for paying attention to the small details!" one user wrote.
"Good job," another wrote. "And a very deserving kudos to the delivery person for being alert and not just [walking] away."
The driver was initially reported as an employee for DoorDash; however, investigators now say the individual is not associated with the food and grocery delivery service.
Where was the Sweetwater hostage situation?
Monday's incident occurred at the Sweetwater Inn at 701 SW Georgia Ave.