Metro

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Roaring Spring man accused of taking two people hostage in a Rodeway Inn motel during a domestic violence incident had a warrant issued for his arrest Tuesday after he failed to appear in court.

Robert James Foor III, 35, was scheduled for sentencing in front of Blair County President Judge Wade A. Kagarise on single felony counts of aggravated assault and strangulation, three misdemeanor counts of simple assault, two misdemeanor counts each of unlawful restraint, making terroristic threats and false imprisonment, as well as a single summary count of harassment.

Foor was being held at the Blair County Prison on $100,000 monetary bail from Sept. 3, 2024, until May 21, 2025, when Kagarise modified his bail to $100,000 unsecured.

The sentencing was scheduled after Foor’s attorney Thomas Dickey submitted documentation to the Blair County District Attorney’s Office on May 23 that indicated Foor intended to plead guilty to some or all of the charges against him.

When he failed to appear, attorney Mary Schaffer, attending the hearing in Dickey’s place, was able to contact Foor’s family member, who said Foor was unaware of the day’s proceedings.

Schaffer requested a continuance and noted Foor wasn’t following the rules of his tracking monitor.

Assistant District Attorney Nick Mays requested a bench warrant for Foor’s arrest. He said that, in addition to Foor’s failing to appear, he requested unsecured bail to address health issues but then failed to seek help.

Kagarise ultimately agreed to issue the warrant.

Foor was taken into custody on Sept. 2, 2024, after officers were dispatched to the Rodeway Inn at 1500 Sterling St., Logan Township, for a report of a domestic incident and possible hostage situation.

Officers spoke with the caller, who said he saw Foor and a female arguing in the parking lot. The caller said the woman was crying and upset, so he approached them to help de-escalate the situation, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Foor invited the caller inside the motel room, saying he didn’t want to continue talking outside. In the room, Foor slammed the victim to the bed by her throat and struck her in the face several times, the police report states.

Foor told them there were multiple weapons under the room’s mattress. The caller tried to calm Foor down and said he was allowed out of the room to get Foor a valium, which is when he called 911, police records state.

While officers were attempting to make contact with Foor’s room, the victim stepped outside with the door still open. When she walked toward officers, Foor poked his head out of the door and was instructed to show his hands and step out. Foor was taken into custody and was not found to be in possession of any weapons, according to the affidavit.

The victim told officers she and Foor were arguing over infidelity and, during the assault, she was unable to breathe and suffered broken teeth. When officers asked the victim if Foor made any threats during the incident, she said he made several threats to shoot her and the caller, the report stated.

During an interview, Foor said the victim was “getting out of control.” Officers spoke with Rodeway Inn staff, who provided documentation showing the room was registered to Foor. A search warrant was granted for the room and no weapons were located, police records state.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.