Charges filed — Police arrest standoff suspect without incident

Formal charges have been filed against a Newcastle man following a tense, hours long standoff with law enforcement on West Railroad Street earlier this week.

According to court documents filed March 24 in Weston County Circuit Court, Brandon Lee Suess, 40, has been charged with felony interference with a peace officer and misdemeanor interference with a peace officer.

The felony charge alleges that Suess attempted to cause bodily injury to a peace officer by throwing a knife at an officer during the incident. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The filing also indicates the state is seeking a habitual criminal enhancement, citing multiple prior felony
convictions, which could increase the potential penalty to life imprisonment if convicted. The affidavit or probable cause notes seven previous felonies, most of which are for burglary and theft. 

A second count alleges that Suess knowingly obstructed or interfered with law enforcement by refusing to comply with commands during the incident, a misdemeanor.

According to an amended affidavit of probable cause filed by Newcastle Police Officer McKinzie Parrish, officers were initially dispatched on March 23 after receiving a tip that Suess, who had an active extraditable warrant, was staying at a residence at 320 W. Railroad St.

Officers made contact at the residence and were told Suess was likely upstairs. After clearing the main portion of the home, officers discovered Suess barricaded inside a crawl space in the attic.

“I’m armed,” Suess told officers, according to the affidavit. 

“When I asked Suess what he had, to which he stated ‘the same thing you have’ at which point I believed him to mean a firearm,” Parrish said in the affidavit. “Suess continued to talk through the door with me. Several times he stated he had a Sig Sau(e)r handgun. Several attempts were made to convince Suess to exit peacefully.” 

Law enforcement attempted to negotiate with Suess for several hours, but he continued to refuse to surrender. During that time, he is alleged to have made repeated threats about shooting law enforcement officers.

At one point, the affidavit says, Suess exited the crawl space and advanced toward officers while yelling and holding an unknown object. An officer deployed a Taser, according to the affidavit, but it was ineffective.

Suess then retreated back into the crawl space and continued to refuse commands, the affidavit states.

Over the course of the standoff, Suess is alleged to have thrown multiple items at officers, including a knife that landed near one officer on a staircase.

The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was ultimately called to the scene and entered the residence. Suess was taken into custody at approximately 1:50 p.m. without further incident.

He was transported to the Weston County Detention Center, where he remains in custody pending a bond hearing.

As previously reported, the incident prompted a large law enforcement response and temporary road closures in the area. No injuries or property damage were reported.

All persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.