SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. -- A man suspected of abducting his ex-wife and holding her hostage for more than 12 hours inside a South Windsor home is scheduled is arraigned from his hospital bed.

Richard Shenkman was taken into police custody early Wednesday morning after a fiery standoff at the home he once shared with his ex-wife, Nancy Tyler.

Shenkman is accused of abducting Tyler in Hartford and taking her to the Tumblebrook Drive home, where he negotiated with police for hours before Tyler's escape.

During the arraignment, Shenkman laid on a stretcher in the Hartford Hospital emergency room, his left foot handcuffed has a precaution. He was also surrounded by three or four corrections officers and four or five police officers, as well as hospital personnel.

Shenkman had been in and out of consciousness all afternoon and appeared to have some trouble breathing, according to his lawyer, Hugh Keefe.

But he said officials deemed him alert enough to be arraigned.

Shenkman is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, kidnapping, arson, criminal violation of a protective order, threatening, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, breach of peace, unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless burning and inciting injury to persons or property.

The judge who had signed the arrest warrant for the Hartford kidnapping charges on Tuesday set bail at $10 million. Judge Brad Ward set the bail for the South Windsor charges at $2.5 million, producing the $12.5 million total.

Keefe called the $10 million bail is unreasonable and said he plans to contest it.

Shenkman didn't enter a plea during the arraignment.

The lawyer added that Shenkman appeared to be in some pain and that the hospital was expected to make a determination on Tuesday night whether he is in good enough condition to be transferred to a corrections facility.

If not, he said, Shenkman will remain at Hartford Hospital until he is well enough to be transferred.

Officials said he was placed on mental health and suicide watches following the arraignment.

Shenkman had been taken to Hartford Hospital after surrendering to police just after midnight. Police said Shenkman emerged from the home, which had been burning for an hour. They said they believe Shenkman had been hiding in a fortified bunker inside the home.

Flames erupted at the home about an hour after Tyler escaped the house in handcuffs at 8:30 p.m. Tyler was taken to St. Francis Hospital after escaping the home Tuesday night. Police said she did not appear to be injured but that she was emotionally distraught.

Firefighters remained at the South Windsor home late Wednesday morning extinguishing hot spots. Bomb technicians, the fire marshal and police investigators were also at what remained of the home collecting and processing evidence.

Police said they suspected that Shenkman started the blaze at the South Windsor home. South Windsor police Cmdr. Matthew Reed said officers saw what appeared to be someone going room-to-room lighting fires in the home near the end of the standoff.

With fire investigators and her children at her side, Tyler returned to South Windsor on Wednesday as her ex-husband was arraigned on a stretcher at Hartford Hospital.

"I think she came out on her own volition," Reed said. "There was a dog recovered from the home that escaped from the home. Just as you and I are out here today looking at the remains, I would imagine she wants to come up and look at what was supposed to be her home."

South Windsor Police Chief Gary Tyler, who isn't related to Nancy Tyler, said his daughter is good friends with Nancy. He said Nancy had once sought his advice on how to deal with Shenkman.

"Nancy's called me on several occasions to talk about restraining orders and what she should be doing with her ex-husband," he said. "He was always either stalking her or causing problems for her. We gave her some advice about that. This was when she was living in the house."

Neighbors said they were also glad to be home.

"Today, we're offering some lemonade, soda, some chips," neighbor Mike Troullas said.

Troullas, who lives across the streets, said he's glad to be back home after he and many of his neighbors were forced out of their homes during the ordeal. He said he wanted to offer free refreshments to the emergency personnel that were helping out.

"It's good to see that we're all back here, and everything seems to be OK," he said.

South Windsor Police Chief Gary Tyler, who isn't related to Nancy Tyler, said his daughter is good friends with Nancy. He said Nancy had once sought his advice on how to deal with Shenkman.

"Nancy's called me on several occasions to talk about restraining orders and what she should be doing with her ex-husband," he said. "He was always either stalking her or causing problems for her. We gave her some advice about that. This was when she was living in the house."

Shenkman's next court date is scheduled for July 14.

Couple Had Tumultuous Divorce

Shenkman, a 60-year-old advertising executive, and Tyler, a 57-year-old attorney, were in the final stages of tumultuous divorce proceedings, according to court documents.

Records show that Tyler filed for divorce in 2006. The dirvorce was ruled final on July 2, 2008, records show, but Shenkman appealed.

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In an opinion that was officially released on Tuesday, the state Appellate Court sided with Tyler. Shenkman was also supposed to hand ownership of the South Windsor home to Tyler on Tuesday as part of the divorce settlement. Police said the abduction occurred shortly before Shenkman and Tyler were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning.

Criminal charges are also pending against Shenkman in connection with a 2007 fire at the couple's Niantic cottage.

According to court documents, the house fire was on March 5, the same day that Shenkman had been ordered to turn the home over to Tyler.

Shenkman was arrested and charged with arson, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief in connection with the fire.

A friend of Tyler's, who asked not to be identified, said Tyler had been trying to divorce Shenkman for three years, though Shenkman was against the idea,. She said the differences between the two were obvious.

"It's been a long road," she said. "Lots of ups and downs. They're like night and day. Just speaking to him, he was very rude and mean. She was a sweet person."