St. Pete police end standoff with arrest

An armed man threatening to torch the house he was living in kept police at bay for several hours this morning before finally surrendering, St. Petersburg police said.

Fred James Davis, 48, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, among other things.

Davis had been at another home earlier in the day, 4900 Alcazar Way South, where his landlord, Margaret Lambrecht, lives with her brother, David Mattock, according to police. All three had been drinking.

About 1 a.m., Lambrecht said something to Davis, an argument ensued, and Davis left peeved, indicating he was going to get revenge against her, said St. Petersburg police spokesman Mike Puetz.

Davis went to 2061 Barcelona Way S., a home he was renting from Lambrecht, Puetz said. Her brother, Mattock, followed him, and when Mattock got there, Davis pulled a .22 caliber handgun and pointed it at Mattock's chest, threatening to kill him. Davis also threatened to burn down the house, Puetz said.

Mattock bolted, and Davis fired off two rounds from the handgun in the house, Puetz said. Once patrol officers arrived at the Barcelona Way home, they saw Davis barricading the house and turning off the lights, Puetz said.

Both Lambrecht and Mattock told police Davis had said he was not going to prison and would shoot it out with the police if he had to, Puetz said.

Police surrounded the house and a hostage negotiator was able to get through to Davis on a phone line at about 2 a.m., Puetz said. Davis said he was contemplating suicide, but as time went on, he became more threatening to police, Puetz said.

The department's Tactical Apprehension and Control Team (TAC) – otherwise known as SWAT – arrived at 5 a.m., and Davis surrendered at 6 a.m., emerging from the house unarmed and intoxicated, Puetz said.

Inside the house, police found two shotguns and two rifles, in addition to the .22 caliber handgun, Puetz said. They also found a 5 gallon gas can which it appeared Davis had planned on using to torch the rental property, Puetz said.

In addition to being a felon in possession of a firearm, Davis was charged with aggravated assault in connection with his pointing the gun at Mattock. He was also wanted on a warrant charging him with violating his probation in connection with a prior drunken driving charge.

According to Pinellas County court records, Davis was charged in 2009 with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a revoked or suspended license, and with obstructing an officer with violence. Later that year, he was sentenced to two years of probation, and on Feb. 16 a warrant was issued charging him with violating the terms of his probation.

He was also charged in 2006 with drunken driving, and with driving with a suspended or revoked license – and then with violating the terms of his probation in the case, court records say.

He was also found guilty of drunken driving in 2003, court records say.

Because the 2009 DUI conviction was his third – and his probation doesn't end until June 21, 2011 – Davis could be sent to prison now that he is charged with violating the terms of his probation.

Davis was transported to the Pinellas County Jail this morning, where he was expected to be held without bail.