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Charges filed Bail set at $1.5 million for Camby hostage suspect
Updated: Tuesday April 24, 2001 3:33 PM
MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) -- The man accused of sexually assaulting a sister of New York Knicks star Marcus Camby and holding three members of Camby's family hostage was ordered held on $1.5 million bond. Troy Crooms, 28, of Hartford, was charged with kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault, burglary and possession of a weapon following Monday's eight-hour standoff at the Camby home. Crooms, who received a court-appointed defense attorney, did not speak and entered no plea during Tuesday's brief court appearance. Assistant state's attorney Adam Scott told Superior Court Judge Jorge Simon he understood Crooms had confessed to police. Scott argued for high bail, noting Crooms' previous conviction for sexual assault. "What we have here is a convicted felon, a sex offender, who is facing over 95 years in jail," Scott said. Crooms is listed on the state's database of sex offenders because of a 1993 conviction for third-degree sexual assault. He also has been convicted of forgery, possession of narcotics, creating a public disturbance and failing to appear in court, according to police. South Windsor police say Crooms broke into the Camby home by entering a first-floor window sometime before 3:30 a.m. Monday. He was sexually assaulting one of Camby's sisters in a second-floor bedroom when another sister awoke and called police, department spokesman Sgt. Matthew Reed said. Camby's mother had called police earlier this month about a dispute at the home, and police questioned Crooms and one of Camby's sisters at the time but did not file any charges, Reed said. When police arrived Monday, they found Crooms holding a kitchen knife to the throat of one of Camby's sisters, Reed said. The officers backed off when Crooms demanded it but were able to take Camby's mother with them. One officer remained hidden inside the home and communicated to other officers outside throughout the morning, police said. A second sister of the NBA player escaped through a second-floor window at the back of the house around 8 a.m. after police put up a ladder, Reed said. The captor's only demand was to speak with Marcus Camby, Reed said. The 6-foot-11 center arrived about 8 a.m., but did not speak to Crooms. Instead, Camby stood out in the driveway, where he was visible to the people inside. A negotiator was allowed to enter the home around 9 a.m. He later left the home but remained in touch by phone, Reed said. Crooms surrendered peacefully just after 11 a.m. without speaking to Camby, Reed said. "Apparently he felt satisfied with Marcus showing up and appearing in the driveway," Reed said. Rick Kaplan, Camby's business manager, described him as "distraught" Monday night. Camby did not attend the Knicks' practice Tuesday. "It's just mind-boggling," Kaplan said. "Marcus has a fatherly approach to his sisters, because there is no other father figure. Just looking at him, you can just see his personal anguish." Camby bought the home for his mother in 1996 for $462,000. The neighborhood features upscale homes on large lots. Camby, a Hartford native, starred at the University of Massachusetts in 1990s. The Knicks are in the midst of a first-round playoff series with the Toronto Raptors, who drafted Camby in 1996. New York won the opener Sunday, with Game 2 of the best-of-five series Thursday night. Knicks general manager Scott Layden went to South Windsor while the team was at its practice facility in Purchase, N.Y. Most members of the Knicks learned of the standoff as they arrived at practice Monday. Head coach Jeff Van Gundy informed them of the situation and dismissed the team for the day. "Right now, basketball is not a high priority. Everybody's mind is strictly on Marcus," teammate Glen Rice said Monday.
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