Suspect says concerns about Satanic cult prompted standoff

Monday, Dec. 6, 2004 | 9:30 a.m.

A man who took his neighbor hostage and held police at bay for 10 hours last week told Metro Police he was upset because he felt local government officials were involved in a Satanic cult.

Gregory Grant, 46, also thought his 33-year-old neighbor was part of the conspiracy, so he told police he decided to "apprehend" him because he thought his neighbor wanted to kill him.

When his neighbor was putting his key into his apartment door about 9 p.m. Dec. 1, Grant allegedly put a dog leash around his neck and held it until he passed out. When the neighbor regained consciousness, he told police, Grant was holding a knife to his throat and he dragged him into his apartment.

Grant bound his hands behind his back with handcuffs and tied him up with dog leashes, the police report says. Grant had broken a hole in the drywall above the bathroom door frame, and the leashes were threaded through the hole so that the hostage was tied up in the bathroom doorway.

During negotiations with police, Grant demanded that his pastor, the media and high-ranking FBI officials be contacted.

When police forced their way into the apartment the morning of Dec. 2, they found a hoax explosive device consisting of five flares duct-taped together with black stereo-type wiring connecting the end caps.

Grant was arrested on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping with a deadly weapon and possession of a hoax explosive device.