UPDATE: Man In Standoff Screamed ‘F**k The Police’, Pointed Rifle At Officer, Cops Say

UPDATED: 10:54 a.m., Sunday:

A 43-year-old Levittown man was lucky to be alive Sunday morning after he allegedly pointed a rifle directly at an officer, according to court papers.

The incident in the 30 block of Teaberry Lane in Falls Township’s Levittown section kicked off just before 10:50 p.m. Saturday when officers responded to a call that a man was shooting a gun in the backyard of a home, according to court papers.

At the scene, Falls Township officers approached the home with weapons drawn, police said.

One of the officers observed Rio Joseph DeMaio, of Falls Township’s Levittown section, on his cell phone in the back of the home yelling about the “feds” and that “people we watching him.” He reportedly yelled he was “tired of it.”

The two officers yelled to DeMaio that they were police and he replied: “Get the f**k out of here. I’ll f**king shoot you,” according to authorities.

DeMaio got up from his seat and began to move to where the officers were located, police said.

DeMaio turned to the one officer and raised a rifle, pointing it directly at him, police said.

The officer switched on a rifle-mounted flashlight and fired two rounds at DeMaio, police said.

DeMaio was reported to have quickly retreated into the house, and officers were unsure if he was hit by the patrolman’s bullets, police said.

The officers on the scene quickly established a perimeter and declared DeMaio a barricaded subject, police said.

The multi-agency Bucks County South Emergency Response Team was called up, which brought numerous officers with tactical training, negotiators, two armored trucks, and a command vehicle.

Neighbors told LevittownNow.com officers surrounded the home and had long rifles. They used a loudspeaker to call for DeMaio to come out.

“They’re using a loudspeaker to call him, and there’s a big SWAT truck on the road. They have police with rifles watching the house from behind the trees and cars,” said a resident, who didn’t wish to have their name published.

Around 2:30 a.m., DeMaio reportedly left his house and was taken into custody without incident.

Police said DeMaio was unhurt and was not hit by the two shots fired earlier by the officer.

A Bensalem Township police sergeant noticed at least four spent shotgun shells on the ground in the rear of DeMaio’s home, law enforcement said.

An early-morning interview with a nearby resident revealed that they heard at least six gunshots coming from DeMaio’s backyard Saturday between 10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The man stated he heard DeMaio screaming “f**k the police” and “get out of the three,” police said.

The neighbor told a detective DeMaio has had previous incidents and was heard “cocking” a gun on several occasions, police said.

A person who is familiar with DeMaio said the man had made erratic social media posts in recent years, which included one upset at Falls Township police.

In social media posts and messages reviewed by this news organization, a profile appearing to belong to DeMaio posted that he believed people’s minds were being controlled by computer software, that he needed to be checked for microchips, and that he had a “couple billion dollars of raw diamond” from India that could be found on local streets.

Since 2020, DeMaio has had several relatively minor police and animal control interactions, according to court records.

DeMaio was hauled before on-call District Judge Mark Douple and preliminarily arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, terroristic threats, simple assault, and reckless endangerment. He was sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $1 million bail.

Original Story:

A man was taken into police custody Sunday morning after an hours-long standoff with a tactical team.

It was not immediately clear what led to the standoff, but police confirmed to LevittownNow.com that the man was in custody as of 6 a.m.

The incident began late Saturday night on Teaberry Lane in Falls Township’s Levittown section.

Falls Township police and medics were spotted in the area around 11 p.m., according to neighbors.

Shortly before midnight, the multi-agency Bucks County South Emergency Response Team responded to the scene and surrounded the home, residents of Teaberry Lane told this news organization.

“They’re using a loudspeaker to call him, and there’s a big SWAT truck on the road. They have police with rifles watching the house from behind the trees and cars,” said a resident, who didn’t wish to have their name published.

There was an initial unconfirmed report of a possible shots fired before the tactical team arrived. Police didn’t immediately release information on whether that was true.

A source with knowledge of the person involved in the incident said the man had made erratic social media posts in recent years, which included one upset at Falls Township police.

In a message reviewed by this news organization, the man wrote he believed people’s minds were being controlled computer software and that he needed to be checked for microchips.

A law enforcement source said the man has had police interactions since 2020.

Two armored trucks were brought to the scene early Sunday. In addition, a large Bensalem Township Police Department command vehicle was called in.

Officers remained at the scene as of 7 a.m.

No charges were filed related to the incident as of 8 a.m.

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