Man convicted in 1996 Ponderosa hostage situation charged with drug offense

Man convicted in 1996 Ponderosa hostage situation charged with drug offense

Staff report

WARREN

Robert F. Jordan III, 50, who was convicted of being part of an April 8, 1996, hostage situation and robbery at the former Ponderosa steakhouse in Niles, has been bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury on a drug charge.

Jordan, of Sutton Place in Howland, was convicted in 1997 on five kidnapping charges and one count of aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 23 to 78 years in prison with parole eligibility after 13 years. It is not known when he got out of prison.

Jordan and others attempted to rob the restaurant, on U.S. Route 422 near North Road, but the crime turned into a police standoff involving numerous hostages.

Jordan, who also went by the name Robert F. Armstrong, was pulled over by a Warren police officer two weeks ago on Youngstown Road at Willard Avenue Southeast. Another officer found cocaine and $508 in cash in his pocket.

He was bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury last week on a felony drug-possession charge. If convicted, he could get eight years in prison. He also was charged in Warren Municipal Court with driving under suspension.

He also has been charged with several other traffic offenses in Warren since 2012 and also several traffic offenses in Niles beginning in 2013.