A Falls man is facing charges after he allegedly fired his gun into his backyard late Saturday night before turning the gun on police and then barricading himself in his Thornridge home for more than three hours.
Rio neighbor Joseph DeMaio called police shortly after 10 p.m. after hearing at least half a dozen shotgun blasts that appeared to originate from DeMaio’s home in the 30 block of Teaberry Lane in Levittown, an affidavit said. of probable cause.
The neighbor told police he had not seen DeMaio, 43, but knew his voice. The neighbor said he heard DeMaio swearing about the police and shouting “get out of the tree,” the affidavit states.
DeMaio’s voice was the only one the neighbor told police he heard, and he also heard the sound of a gunshot multiple times, authorities said.
Three Falls officers arrived at the house shortly before 11 a.m. As they approached the house, an officer saw DeMaio sitting at a table on the back patio yelling on his cell phone about “the feds.”
DeMaio was also heard to claim that people were staring at him and that he was fed up, according to the affidavit.
When the officers announced their presence, DeMaio allegedly threatened them if they did not leave.
“I will (expletive) shoot you,” he said, according to police.
DeMaio then got up and started walking towards two officers with a gun in hand, according to the affidavit. When the third officer alerted the others to the gun, DeMaio turned and pointed his rifle at the officer, according to the affidavit.
The officer then aimed his mounted flashlight at DeMaio and, after confirming that DeMaio was armed, the officer fired two shots at the suspect, who then ran into the house unharmed, authorities said.
Police declared a barricade incident and set up a perimeter around the house. Several tactical teams have been called home. After more than three hours, DeMaio left the house and he was taken into custody around 2:30 a.m.
Officers at the scene found four spent shotgun shells on the ground in the backyard of the home, according to the affidavit. No one else was in the house at the time of the incident, police said.
Bucks County property records show DeMaio previously owned the home, but it was sold to a holding company in January.
DeMaio was arraigned Sunday morning on charges of aggravated assault and multiple related misdemeanor charges. He was taken to Bucks County Correctional Center in lieu of 10% of a $1 million bond.
Falls police executed a search warrant at the Teaberry Lane home on Sunday afternoon, Falls Lt. Christopher Clark said.
According to court records, DeMaio pleaded guilty to six summary citations in April 2020, including disorderly conduct, harboring a dangerous dog, and possessing a harmful, vicious or destructive animal.
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Falls man threatens cops and barricades himself inside Levittown home