A Ventura man was arrested early Friday morning after allegedly threatening to kill police officers who were at his home to help a former resident pick up her property.
Bernard Loughman, 55, was arrested around 2:35 a.m., after an hourslong standoff and an incident that began last week.
Last Saturday, the Ventura Police Department responded to his home on the 300 block of Catalina Street to “keep the peace” while the former tenant collected her things from inside.
While officers were on the scene, Loughman allegedly exited and began yelling at them, threatening to “blow their skulls off” before retreating back into his home.
The threat led to police withdrawing, making sure the former resident was safe and launching an investigation into previous allegations against Loughman.
Police learned that the same former resident had tried to pick up her belongings back in December but was allegedly attacked by Loughman, who she said hit her with the butt of a rifle and caused serious injuries.
Because of the claim of past violent behavior and belief that Loughman had access to firearms, the Ventura Police Department issued a warrant for Loughman’s arrest, activated its SWAT team and requested assistance from its counterparts at the Oxnard Police Department.
Around 8:50 p.m. Thursday night, the large police presence served a search warrant at the home.
Four of the home’s occupants immediately exited but told authorities that Loughman refused to leave, confirming that he also had access to guns.
A standoff ensued for several hours, and Loughman refused to surrender late into the evening and into early Friday morning.
Around 2:30 a.m., armed SWAT officers entered the home and found him inside a locked bathroom. Again, he refused to surrender, officials said.
Finally, officers breached the bathroom and were able to take him into custody without any injuries reported.
He was booked into the Ventura County Jail to await charges for resisting arrest, battery and making criminal threats, the latter two of which are felonies.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to call 805-650-8010.