CUMMING - A hostage standoff in Forsyth County ended about 11:00 this morning when a SWAT team used a percussion grenade to blow open a door on a house on Burruss Mill Road where a man had been holed up for nearly 12 hours, holding his ex-girlfriend hostage.
Sheriff's office spokesman Tim House said the incident began around 1:30, and finally ended when officers blew off the door of the house at 5755 Burruss Mill Road around 10:55 a.m. and apprehended the suspect, Matthew Scott Whelchel.
House said no serious injuries were reported during the incident.
He said Whelchel, 28, is the ex-boyfriend of the female captive, whose name and condition have not been released. She was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation.
Whelchel has a long rap sheet, according to House.
"He is well known to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office," said House. "He was arrested in August of this year, charged with family violence, cruelty to children, obstruction of an officer and battery. He is also on the sexual registry."
The woman originally called 911 to report that Whelchel was holding her against her will around 1:30, according to House. House said the Forsyth County Sheriff SWAT team was called to the scene along with negotiators, who began trying to talk Whelchel into surrendering about three hours later.
House said officers thought the situation was getting dangerous and they decided to go in. "Mr. Whelchel (was becoming) a little more irritable and unstable...he at one point was brandishing a shotgun through a window. He never aimed it at the deputies, but did let us know that he was armed."
Saturday
July 12th, 2025
3:28PM
