Renee Alway Arrested: 'ANTM' Finalist Had 6-Hour Standoff With SWAT Team
"America's Next Top Model" finalist Renee Alway was arrested after a six-hour standoff with police at a condominium in Palm Springs, Calif. Alway was charged with burglary, fraud and possession of a controlled substance, authorities said in a statement.
Authorities responded to a call of a suspicious person in the area and noticed a back door to one of the residences was open. However, the condo should have been vacant, given that the owners were out of the country. Alway was armed and found hiding in the garage.
The SWAT team was called in, and Alway found herself in a six-hour standoff with police. She was finally apprehended and is in the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000. She was already scheduled to appear in court next week, but police would not say why.
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Other reports state that Alway was arrested twice in April for charges of grand theft over $400, grand theft with a firearm, and receiving stolen property. Then, TMZ reported, she was arrested twice in June and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, petty theft, and fraud. She pleaded not guilty to all charges and was expected in court next week.
Alway appeared on Cycle 8 of "ANTM," the show made a household name by Tyra Banks. She competed on the series and actually made it to the final three, according to the show's website.
"She heard about the open audition the day before it took place in Chicago, and had been in town to get married," the website explained. Alway was selected to compete on the show but lost to Natasha Galkina and the winner of Cycle 8, Jaslene Gonzalez.
This is not the first time that an "ANTM" alum has gotten into trouble. Jael Strauss revealed last year that she was addicted to methamphetamine, but she chose to appear on "Dr. Phil" and receive help. She has not been seen since the TV appearance, but it was a stunning revelation that fueled speculation about the welfare of contestants on "ANTM."
