Published: September 05, 2008 09:42 am      

Police: State forest gunman threatened to kill several people

Charles County man arrested with numerous assault weapons after two-hour negotiations

DEER PARK — A 38-year-old Charles County man who allegedly threatened to kill several people in the Lost Land Run area of Potomac State Forest surrendered after two hours of negotiations with police Wednesday afternoon.

Christopher Conrad Slough of Indian Head was in the state forest with several pistols and assault-style rifles, according to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.

Police said Slough threatened to kill a couple whom he met but they escaped and called police around 2:40 p.m.

Slough allegedly fired numerous shots at a vehicle that had fled from the area.

Deputies and a hostage negotiator located Slough and said he was threatening himself and the police officers. The hostage negotiator was able to open an avenue of communication with Slough, who eventually surrendered without further incident. He is being held in the Garrett County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.

Slough was charged with four counts each of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and second-degree assault and two counts of false imprisonment.

Police recovered four semiautomatic assault weapons, a shotgun, a rifle, a bolt-action weapon, a large-caliber revolver, five large-caliber semiautomatic handguns and several hundred rounds of ammunition. A number of the weapons were identified as having been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

The Maryland State Police Medevac helicopter and Southern Garrett Rescue Squad also responded.