GCSO Responds To Hostage Situation In Pot. State Forest

courtesy Republican News


Sep. 4, 2008

Garrett County sheriff's deputies arrested a Charles County man yesterday after receiving a report of a person in the area of Lost Land Run Road, Potomac State Forest, who had taken multiple persons hostage. The report stated that the suspect had threatened to kill the hostages, while brandishing several pistols and assault-style rifles.
Garrett County Sheriff’s Office deputies received the call at approximately 4:40 p.m. When they arrived near the scene, they learned that the suspect, identified as Christopher Conrad Slough, 38, Indian Head, had fired numerous shots at a vehicle that had fled from the area. Members of the GCSO Special Response Team, in addition to a GCSO hostage negotiator, responded to the immediate scene and located an armed individual threatening himself as well as responding deputies.

Sheriff’s office personnel secured the scene to prevent Potomac State Forest visitors from unknowingly entering the proximity of the armed suspect, as well as to keep the suspect from escaping the area and taking other visitors hostage. The hostage negotiator was able to open an avenue of communications with the suspect, and after nearly two hours of negotiation, the suspect surrendered without further incident.

Deputies recovered a total of 13 weapons and over several hundred rounds of ammunition at the scene. The weapons seized included four semi-automatic assault weapons, one 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, one pump-action rifle, one bolt-action weapon, one large caliber revolver, and five large caliber semi-automatic handguns. A number of these weapons have been identified as having been reported stolen.

Slough was charged with four counts of first degree assault, four counts of reckless endangerment, four counts of second degree assault, and two counts of false imprisonment. The investigation is continuing, and additional charges may be filed.

Southern Garrett County Rescue Squad and Maryland State Police Trooper 3 also responded to the scene.


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