Sentence:  When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to <WSD>let</WSD> him <WSD>loose</WSD>, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To free; to release from restraint.