The following is from the Pueblo County Sheriff's office
(photo credit, Pueblo county sheriff)
(Pueblo, CO) -- A 51-year-old Pueblo West man was arrested on several felony charges after an hour-long standoff with Pueblo County Sheriff’s deputies. Erin Kemling was arrested September 8, after Sheriff’s SWAT team members utilized SWAT tactics to enter the home where Kemling had barricaded himself inside. He was taken into custody without incident. Deputies responded to a residence in the 500 block of Paradise Drive at about 11 p.m. September 7, on a report of a family disturbance. A family member reported Kemling was armed with a handgun and threatening to kill family members. Prior to deputies’ arrival, a woman and two children in the home safely left the residence. When deputies arrived, Kemling had barricaded himself inside and refused repeated verbal orders to come out. Kemling also pointed a handgun at deputies outside his home and at neighbors and himself. Sheriff’s negotiators and SWAT team members were called out in an effort to persuade Kemling to surrender. However, Kemling continued to refuse orders to come out of the home and, at one point, threatened to shoot deputies if they approached the home. Deputies could see Kemling through the windows and he was holding a handgun. He later was seen also holding a long gun. During the standoff, Kemling fired at least one shot inside the home. No one was injured. After several hours of unsuccessful negotiations, SWAT members deployed gas and a distractionary device and were able to enter the home and took Kemling into custody. A search warrant of the home was sought and obtained. During the search, deputies recovered a spent shell casing and found nine guns. Kemling was arrested for two counts of child abuse, harassment, three counts of menacing with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, resisting arrested and illegal discharge of a firearm. He was booked into the Pueblo County Jail. ###
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