Willernie Man Arrested After SWAT Standoff Sunday Morning
A 44-year-old man from Willernie faces two felony charges after an incident on Sunday morning resulting in a SWAT team callout. According to the criminal complaint, around 1:42 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence on Wildwood Road in Willernie and a caller reported that Travis Terry Emerfoll was threatening other people inside the home with a knife. Deputies observed Emerfoll holding a large silver knife, he refused to comply with officers and barricaded himself inside the house, documents say.
Deputies were made aware of two others that were inside the home. They were able to safely exit and reported that Emerfoll returned home from the bar and became upset. Emerfoll attempted to kick down a door inside the home and assaulted a woman identified as the suspect's girlfriend in the criminal complaint by slapping her in the face and punching her in the chest.
Officers made entry into the home and used less-lethal force as Emerfoll refused commands to drop the knife. Deputies called for the Washington County SWAT team to assist with taking the suspect into custody. Emerfoll then started multiple blankets and clothing inside the home on fire, causing damage to the residence. After a lengthy negotiation, Emerfoll surrendered to law enforcement and was taken into custody.
Emerfoll is charged with felony arson in the first degree and one count of felony domestic assault. He faces 20 years in prison on the arson charge and up to five years on the domestic assault charge. He is being held in the Washington County Jail with no bail as he awaits his first court date scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Court records show Emerfoll has multiple felony convictions dating back to 1996, including ones for third-degree burglary, two convictions for 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing a police officer. His most recent charge from 2018 was felony domestic assault, where he served just over two and a half years in prison and was released less than a year ago.
