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Former Pittsburgh Firefighter Facing Several Charges Following SWAT Situation

BRIGHTON HEIGHTS (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Police Officers are being hailed as heroes for quickly rescuing a woman after she was assaulted and held against her will inside a North Side home today.

Together with the City's SWAT unit, police used a fire truck ladder to rescue the woman from a second story window.

The woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries.

The man charged with strangulation and unlawful restraint is also hospitalized.

He is also a former City of Pittsburgh firefighter and police have reportedly been to his home before.

Pittsburgh Police alongside the city's SWAT team worked quickly to rescue a woman from inside a home in the 4000 block of Brandon Road in the Brighton Heights section of the North Side.

Around 1:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon Police received a call that a woman had been assaulted.

"She was inside the home still with the man that had assaulted her. Officers attempted to make contact with the male. Male refused to let the female exit the home, which made this a hostage situation," said Chris Togneri, the Public Information Officer for Pittsburgh's Public Safety Department.

Police located the woman in the home and say she was hurt. Officers had to work quickly to rescue her. They used a ladder from firefighters to reach her on the second floor and get her out.

City of Pittsburgh Zone One Officers were backed up by the city SWAT.

"The SWAT team along with the tactical negotiations team we called to the scene. Negotiators were able to speak to the male, they spoke with him on the phone for over an hour, the male was not cooperative," said Togneri.

Officers used tear gas and went in the home with a K-9 to get the man out after he barricaded himself in the home and refused to come out.

47-year-old Marc Vrane, a former city of Pittsburgh firefighter is under arrest and facing charges including aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, strangulation, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment along with drug charges. Officers found drug paraphernalia inside the home.

The officers are being hailed for their quick action in getting the woman out of the house and to safety.

"Zone One Officers recognized that this woman need to be taken out of this home to safety. They acted in a very courageous way they made Swat's job a lot easier," Togneri said.

Police are getting a search warrant for Vrane's home and more charges are expected.

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