FROSTBURG, MD – A woman was held hostage inside a home by a man with a high-powered rifle and a knife.
According to the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, at around 11:30 am, the department were made aware that a female was allegedly being held against her will in a Frostburg residence.
“In coordination and with the assistance of The Frostburg City Police, deputies responded and established a perimeter at the residence in an attempt to determine the validity of the report. The female was able to communicate with family members though the use of an Alexa device, and confirmed that she was being held against her will and that her captor had access to at least one long gun,” the department said.
Officers determined that the man inside the home was wanted on several warrants and had access to firearms.
“Members of the negotiations team were able to successfully call out the female from within the residence and have her transported for an evaluation of injuries that were non-life-threatening stemming from her captivity,” the department said, but the suspect remained barricaded inside the home.
Police used a robot to establish a line of communication with the suspect.
“The male refused to comply with any requests to surrender peacefully and threatened to force the police to end his life. Due to the believed access to high powered firearm(s) and his threatening to cause a potential firefight in the streets of Frostburg the decision was made to contain any further escalation inside of the residence,” the department said.
When police entered the room occupied by the man he was armed with a knife and acting menacingly toward officers. He was tased and taken into custody without incident five hours after the ordeal began.
Police found a high-powered rifle in the home.
Charles Douglas Cobak was arrested for outstanding warrants, assault on a police officer, domestic assault, false imprisonment and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.
As a precaution, Mountain Ridge High School and Beall Elementary were placed on lockdown, and the Board of Education Safety Director was briefed on the scene.