A Falls man was charged Saturday night after barricading himself inside a Thornridge home for more than three hours before turning the weapon over to police for firing a gun in his backyard.
A neighbor of Rio Joseph DeMaio called police shortly after 10 p.m. after hearing at least half a dozen gunshots that appeared to be coming from DeMaio’s home in the 30 block of Tiberi Lane in Levittown.
The neighbor told police he never saw DeMaio, 43, but recognized his voice. The neighbor said he heard DeMaio yelling about police dispatchers and yelling, “Get out of the tree,” the affidavit said.
The neighbor told police he only heard DeMaio’s voice, and that he also heard gunshots fired several times, authorities said.
Three Falls officers arrived at the home just before 11 a.m. When they approached the home, one officer saw Demeo sitting at a table on the back porch, yelling about “the feds” on his cell phone.
DeMaio was overheard saying people were watching him and he was fed up, the affidavit said.
When the officers made their presence known, DiMaio allegedly threatened them if they did not leave.
“I’m going to shoot you,” police said.
DeMaio then got up and started moving toward two officers with a gun in his hand, the affidavit said. When the third officer alerted the others about the weapon, DiMaio turned and pointed the gun at the officer.
The officer then shined his mounted flashlight on DeMaio and, after confirming that DeMaio was armed, the officer fired two rounds at the suspect, who ran into the house unharmed, authorities said.
The police declared the wall around the house and set up a perimeter. Several tactical teams were called to the home. After more than three hours, DeMaio left the house and was taken into custody around 2:30 a.m.
Officers at the scene found four spent shell casings on the ground in the backyard of the home, according to the affidavit. No one else was home at the time of the incident, police said.
Bucks County property records show DeMaio previously owned the home, but it was sold to a foreclosure company in January.
DeMaio was arraigned Sunday morning on charges including aggravated assault and several related misdemeanor charges. He was taken to the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of 10% of his $1 million bail.
Falls police executed a search warrant at a Teaberry Lane home Sunday afternoon, Falls Lt. Christopher Clark said.
According to court records, DiMaio pleaded guilty in April 2020 to six summary citations, including disorderly conduct, keeping a dangerous dog, and possessing a nuisance, cruel or destructive animal.
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This article originally appeared in the Bucks County Courier Times: Fallen man threatens police, locks himself in Levittown home