Man Charged in Hostage Incident at Law Office

The man suspected of holding a secretary hostage in a Century City law firm during an eight-hour standoff with police on Wednesday was arraigned Friday on five criminal counts including kidnaping, extortion and assault with a deadly weapon.

Reynard Jones, 33, of Compton, pleaded innocent to the charges.

Jones was arrested after a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team used explosives to blow the door off the office of his attorney, Herbert L. Michel. Jones, who police said had claimed to have a bomb and a gun, allegedly held temporary secretary Temple Curry, 25, at knifepoint and demanded $5,000 and a car.

There were no injuries in the incident but the explosion that blew the heavy conference room door off its hinges caused $50,000 to $75,000 damage, according to Michel. Damage included scorched walls and carpeting, ruined artwork and shattered law books, he said.

In addition to one count each for kidnaping, extortion and assault, Jones was also charged with false imprisonment and falsely reporting a bomb threat.

Michel, who was not in the Fox Plaza building at the time, said Jones was not upset with the law office or its services, but at the court system and “the insurance carriers for the parties he is suing, (who are) delaying his expected settlements.”

Jones has a civil suit pending against Pacific Coast College on Wilshire Boulevard, where he allegedly fell and was injured.

He has also filed worker’s compensation claims against two companies.

Michel said he probably will withdraw as Jones’ lawyer.