Man involved in standoff in jail on $300,000 bond

May 01, 2009|By MATTHEW UMSTEAD

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. -- A Jefferson County man involved in a standoff with police last month was arraigned Friday in Jefferson County Magistrate Court, according to police and court records.

Eddie Lee Penland, 21, of Spruce Hill Way near Charles Town, faces charges of two counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, receiving stolen property and wanton endangerment.

Penland was in Eastern Regional Jail Friday night on a $300,000 bond set by Magistrate Gail Boober, said Jesse Jones, chief of staff for Jefferson County Sheriff Robert "Bobby" Shirley.

Penland had been in Eastern Regional Jail on $100,000 bond after being arraigned last month on charges stemming from a two-month narcotics and firearms investigation, Jones had said. That bond has been revoked, Jones said Friday.

Jones said Penland on Thursday waived his right to an extradition hearing in Winchester, Va., where he had been detained on a fugitive warrant that was issued after Penland was taken there for treatment for a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Penland exchanged gunfire with two bondsmen who freed him April 22 at his mother's house with the understanding he was getting bail money.

The bondsmen took the handcuffs and "belly chain" off of Penland so he could go into the attic, where he told them he had a safe with money in it, Jones had said.

Instead, Penland retrieved an M-4 assault rifle, which police later determined was stolen, Jones had said.

In an exchange of gunfire that followed, Penland was shot once in the left shoulder with a Glock .45-caliber handgun, Jones said.

Penland then apparently retreated to a secret room in the attic of the home that police initially did not find upon searching the residence, which is near Washington High School, Jones had said.

Tear gas then was fired into the home in an attempt to get Penland out of the house, and when he eventually was captured, police said he had a .38-caliber handgun in his possession, Jones said.

Several law enforcement agencies in Jefferson County, along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Agency took part in the operation, Jones had said.

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