January 9, 2018
The Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations
Division and Drug Task Force members received information that Robert Wayne
Cornwell (12-2-77) had an active warrant from Taylor County for violation of
probation. Cornwell was reported to be at a residence located at 13330 NE 76
Lane in the North South Estates Subdivision.
Cornwell had violated his probation on the original charge which
stemmed from an investigation in Taylor County for possession of an electronic
device by a convicted felon and attempt to escape. Cornwell also has a prior felony
conviction for solicitation for murder.
Investigators arrived and when they confronted Cornwell he
barricaded himself inside the home with an adult female companion. Cornwell,
who armed himself with a knife, refused to allow the female companion to leave
the home. The female was able to escape shortly after deputies announced their
presence and their intent to arrest Cornwell. The female reported observing
Cornwell ingest an unknown substance before she was able to escape the home.
Deputies surrounded the home and began negotiations with
Cornwell for his surrender. The stand-off lasted approximately one hour before
he submitted and exited the home.
In the interim, deputies had to re-route a Levy County
School bus from its normal route of dropping off students. No students were
ever in danger. School Board officials were contacted and were in the process
of arranging an alternate pick up location when Cornwell surrendered. The bus
resumed its route, but the students arrived later than expected at their normal
drop off locations.
Cornwell was transported to a local hospital for treatment related
to his ingestion of the unknown substance. He will be arrested for False
Imprisonment and additional charges.