Man, pregnant girlfriend charged in Md. standoff

BALTIMORE (AP) - August 23, 2008 James Prevatt III, 26, and Rene Reynolds, 21, both of Moncks Corner, S.C., were captured Friday at the Hancock, Md., motel that officers had surrounded for two days. Prevatt threatened to kill officers and Reynolds during the standoff, which ended without injury when police burst into the room after Prevatt opened the door for a food delivery.

He faces charges of theft, threat of arson with an explosive device and drug possession. Reynolds faces charges of theft, conspiracy to threaten arson and drug possession.

Prevatt told police he had used drugs before and during the ordeal, Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley said Friday. After the pair was captured, police said they found what they believe to be marijuana and Ecstasy in the room.

Police were holding Prevatt without bond on an arrest warrant from a 2000 burglary in nearby Hagerstown, and Reynolds was being held on $250,000 bond. Authorities did not know if either had retained an attorney.

Prevatt had threatened to kill police, blow up or burn down the motel and talked of detonating a bomb on Reynolds' body, but officers did not find explosives or firearms in the room, state police said. They did find a pile of stolen jewelry, cameras, electronics and coins, including $17,000 worth of property taken during a home burglary earlier this month near Hancock in western Maryland.

The 45-hour standoff began when police arrived Wednesday night at the America's Best Value Inn on U.S. 522 to arrest Prevatt, who was wanted on burglary and larceny charges in Maryland, South Carolina, Massachusetts and Virginia.

After a robotic vehicle brought Prevatt food, officers pushed their way through the room's front door and used explosives to blow open the back door.

Massachusetts officials plan to require Prevatt to eventually face charges there, Maryland State Police said.

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