PITTSBURGH—The girlfriend of a man accused of taking a hostage in a Pittsburgh high-rise and posting about it on Facebook says he is a "sweet guy."

Police called in 23-year-old Je'Nauba Lipford-Watts to come talk to 22-year-old Klein Michael Thaxton during the tense hostage standoff Friday. Authorities say Thaxton held a businessman at knife-point for more than five hours before surrendering. The hostage was released unharmed.

Lipford-Watts tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ( http://bit.ly/QyGGmU) police came by her home Friday and asked her to go downtown. She ended up speaking with her ex-boyfriend as part of the negotiations.

She says he hopes Thaxton gets the help he needs. He's being held on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault and terroristic threats. His attorneys say he is remorseful.

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Information from: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, http://pghtrib.com