Man releases girlfriend's 9-year-old son following 4-hour stand-off

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — A Volusia County man accused of holding his girlfriend's son hostage for hours faced a judge Wednesday.

WFTV was at the scene Tuesday night when Jamie Cook, 31, surrendered and let the 9-year-old go, following a four-hour standoff at a Port Orange home. The boy was unharmed.

Port Orange police said they surrounded the home on Sydney Street, where Cook was holed up inside.

Police said the standoff began when Cook began making suicidal threats. Neighbor Linda Jarrett said she heard fighting from inside the home.

"They were arguing. It got pretty loud, and one of the neighbors called police," Jarrett.

Police said they believed Cook was armed. Three other children, along with Cook's girlfriend, were able to get away safely.

The boy's father, Roger Kolb, received the phone call at work, and then rushed to the home. Kolb said he plans to fight for custody.

"Saying there was a hostage situation. My ex-wife's boyfriend had my son Jarod, [and] had a knife to his throat and was holding him hostage," said Kolb. "I really thought he was going to kill him."

Afterward, Kolb said one of the children told him over the phone that Cook spent the day doing drugs and drinking.

"For years, I've been fighting for them to be safe, and it's shame it comes to this. I knew something like this was going to eventually happen," Kolb said.

WFTV found out Cook had been arrested nine times before on a variety of charges, including domestic violence and battery.

Police said Cook was charged with false imprisonment and child neglect. Additional charges were added, including assault with a deadly weapon and domestic battery.

Due to the additional charges,  Cook will ace a judge on Thursday as well.

He is being held in the Volusia County Jail without bail.

WFTV