Man arrested after barricading himself inside motel room with woman who was in 'distress'

RIDGEWAY, Va. – UPDATE

A man who barricaded himself and a woman inside a motel Friday is in custody, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the U.S. marshals were attempting to serve administrative immigration paperwork on 50-year-old Ravindra Patel, the manager of the King's Court Motel in Ridgeway, who also happened to live at the motel.

When authorities were attempting to serve the paperwork, Patel became uncooperative and began to barricade himself inside the motel, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities discovered that a woman was inside with Patel and she appeared to be in distress, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff’s Office says it also received a secondary call that the woman was being held hostage inside the motel. 

Members of the Sheriff’s Office, including the SWAT team and negotiators, responded to the scene. 

A few times, Patel came to the motel room window to make "minimal communication" to authorities but would not come out, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

The woman eventually came to the window and indicated she was scared and he would not let her come outside, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

The woman was able to run out safely as the SWAT team was preparing to enter, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

Negotiators made multiple attempts to contact Patel for about four and a half hours but he refused to communicate, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

After obtaining warrants, the SWAT team entered the motel. They found several large dogs that were safely removed. Patel was taken into custody without further incident, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

Patel was arrested and charged with a felony count of abduction and a misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice.

He is currently held in the Henry County Jail without bail.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751.

ORIGINAL STORY

Law enforcement is at the scene where a person is barricaded inside a Ridgeway motel.

The incident is happening at the King's Court Motel on Greensboro Road.

Authorities say a victim was held as a hostage and is now out safe, according to BTW21.

Virginia State Police troopers are at the scene handling traffic control.

10 News has a crew heading to the scene, and we are working to learn more about what's happening.