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Standoff suspect still in jail
Injured woman out of hospital
Whelchel WEB
Whelchel

 

A Forsyth County man arrested following a 10-hour standoff with authorities remained in custody Wednesday.

Bond has not been set for 28-year-old Matthew Scott Whelchel, who was taken into custody Tuesday morning, said a spokeswoman at the Forsyth County Detention Center.

Whelchel has been charged with one count each of terroristic threats and false imprisonment. As of Wednesday, no additional charges had been filed.

Authorities used force Tuesday morning to enter a home on Burruss Mill Road, where Whelchel was reportedly keeping a woman hostage.

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Capt. Tim House said the woman was released from a local hospital Tuesday afternoon after being treated for minor injuries.

House did not know if the woman lived at the home with Whelchel.

The incident began early Tuesday morning after authorities received a call from Whelchel’s ex-girlfriend, who said he had beaten up his current girlfriend and was holding her hostage.

Whelchel refused to come out of the house or let the woman leave when deputies arrived.

House said authorities recovered a shotgun, which Whelchel had reportedly shown through a window during the standoff.

After attempting to negotiate with him for several hours, authorities used a device to remove a house door from its hinges. A Taser was then used to subdue the suspect after he resisted arrest.

House said Whelchel has a criminal history and was most recently arrested in August for battery under the family violence act, obstruction and cruelty to children.