Synthetic Drugs Suspected in Fourteen Hour Standoff

Pennsylvania State Police say a standoff that started at 9 a.m. October 23rd and ended at around 11:30 that night in North Rome Township may have been the result of the use of the synthetic drug known as 'Bath Salts.'

A woman entered a convenience store in Rome on the morning of the 23rd and told an employee that her boyfriend, 37 year old Steven Brown, was threatening her with a gun and holding her against her will.  She also said Brown threatened to go into the store and start shooting people if she failed to return to the vehicle.

After the woman left the store, the worker called police who responded to a home on North Rome Road.

Authorities say the woman was able to flee the house at around 11 a.m. and she told police Brown had continued to threaten to kill her. She also told authorities Brown was armed with numerous firearms.

Authorities continued to negotiate with Brown for over 12 hours.

After being taken into custody, Brown was transported to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for evaluation of suspected ingestion of Bath Salts.

Brown is charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, assault, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats.