Six-Hour Standoff Ends; Suspect In Custody / Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Southern Colorado, Breaking News, News, Weather, School Closings, Traffic from KKTV 11 News

	Watch LIVE Newscasts Watch Southern Colorado's ONLY live streamed newscasts!
	KKTV To Go Anytime. Anywhere. Now you can get 11 News on your wireless device.
	KKTV.com E-News News and weather delivered to your inbox weekday mornings. Sign up now!
	KKTV 11 News Alert Get instant weather and news on your desktop. Download 11 News Alert FREE!

There are currently no active polls at this time.
Click here to view other polls on our site and past poll results.

Six-Hour Standoff Ends; Suspect In Custody

Save

Posted: 9:51 AM Aug 21, 2008
Last Updated: 2:08 PM Aug 21, 2008
Reporter: Leslie Fichera
Email Address: LFichera@kktv.com

34 comments

Photos

A | A | A

The Bent County Sheriff's Office has confirmed the standoff situation near 3rd and Elm Street in Las Animas has ended.

Elm Street between 2nd and 4th was barricaded off for more than six hours Thursday.

The Las Animas Police Department says around 6:30 a.m. Jennifer Cartmill called police saying her estranged husband, Vern Lafeyette Faus, whom she had a restraining order against, had broken into her home, assaulted her and held her against her will for more than three hours.

Cartmill, 36, told police she had managed to escape but 38-year-old Faus had barricaded himself inside the house. She said he was armed and threatening to shoot police if they arrived.

Las Animas police surrounded the home located at 312 Elm Ave. and confirmed that Faus was inside and had a weapon.

Pueblo County SWAT was called to the scene to assist. After about six hours Officer Terry Pemberton, the initial officer on the call, was able to successfully negotiate Faus out of the house.

Faus was taken into custody. He also has a history of domestic violence.

Click Pictures to Enlarge

More Stories
Bar Owner Reacts To Undercover Alcohol Sting

Branch Inn One Week Later: No Crime Committed

Springs Police Get Their Own DNA Lab

Naked-Jogging Priest Sentenced To Probation

Eldora Ski Area In Colorado Preps For Opening Day

Shots Ring Out During Last Call; 2 Killed At Trinidad Bar

Beef Council: New Cuts Of Beef Offer More Value

Remembering Pueblo's Ashley Johnson

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Former Victim Location: LA on Aug 27, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Vern is sitting where he should be in a jail cell. He is very self-centered and did what he did because he thought he could get away with it and change Jennifer's mind about testifying against him. He did it because it is what he does, hurt people. Vern has been doing this for at least 30 years, I know from experience. He has gotten away with it for a very long time. I don't wish him dead. I believe in a good and forgiving God and I have prayed for him to be kept safe, but more importantly for the rest of us to be kept safe from him. The justice will not come from killing him or him getting treated this way in prison. He has already been treated that way from someone who "loved" him, why would it be worse from a stranger? The justice comes in knowing that he will have to sit in his cell knowing he got caught and he finally has to admit what he has done and what has been done to him! He will never change, but finally he has to admit that he did it! I pray he never hurts anyone again!

Posted by: Andrea Brandon Location: Pueblo/Las Animas on Aug 26, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Im glad to hear that Jen and her children are ok!!! Now I am appalled at how our citizens are acting. Yes, you all have the right to be mad at Vern, and maybe those opinions on daddy Faus were somewhat right, but hoping this man to die isn't going to take the pain and the scars away! Like Vern's ex-wife said, he had done this years ago!!! An orange jumper is going to look amazing on him!!! We all have a pretty good idea of what happens to people like that in prison...he will get his comeuppance. Now, about Mark...what he and Vern do have in common is making people suffer and hurting those we all care about. I am not ashamed to put my name up there at the top of this comment b/c I like everyone else am entitled to my opinion...but we can be thankful for the fact that this time around a family is safe and another criminal is off the street!! I am proud of our Police Dept and P-SWAT!

Posted by: stella on Aug 26, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I just want to say that I am very proud of my brother Terry Pemberton for what he did for everyone. Not every one can do what he did. The S.W.A.T. was great as were the other Officers. I have always been proud of him and know he can do what every he puts his mind to. Terry is an asset to the Police Department. Please be careful. Thank you

Posted by: Jennifer Location: Las Animas on Aug 26, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Just to let everyone know, we are doing ok. Thank you for all the comments. Court for the first case is Sept. 3 2:30pm in Bent county for sexual assault on a child anr demestic violenc and I will have to testifiy in court and Vern's charges for the six hour stand off will be read to him the same day. If you guys want a story here it is. To all the victims out there Please stand together, and pray because i'll be fighting this to put him behind bars, so he can not hurt anyone else. Thank you

Posted by: Dave Roberts Location: Las Animas on Aug 25, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Having been a street cop, detective, correctional supervisor, and coroner for many years, I can totally understand the feelings of betrail expressed by the people of Bent County. I can understand them; but I feel that their anger is misdirected. When a Judge sentences a person, or sets their bail, they are bound by strict guidelines (as enumerated in the Colorado Revised Statutes). Our anger should be directed at our Senators and Representatives who make the laws which Jucges must adhere to.

Posted by: a victim-long time ago Location: Colorado on Aug 25, 2008 at 11:35 AM
There is no cure for sexual assault-accept a bullet. You hear so many times of history repeating itself-again and again. Eventually a victim fights back or things don't go right, and a victim ends up dead. Our judicial system needs to be redone so that doesn't happen. Jen-Our prayers go out to you!

Posted by: Anon Location: CS on Aug 24, 2008 at 08:01 PM
You as a community need to get the bad apples out of office. The people that don't have issues around these matters are usually those that don't see anything wrong with this sick, repeated behavior. It's citizens there are paying a very high price. You should reevaluate your office holders. Good Luck!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: LA on Aug 24, 2008 at 05:22 PM
The family good standing in the community? How? Ron beat his wife up,know for a fact he tried to run down Vern , ya his own own son that he bailed twice,1st sexual assault on a child , 2nd for breaking the restrainig order, of which Ron was driving as Vern can't drive because he is a dead beat dad. Everyone knows Vern is NO angel way back to high school. So Ron own a business, if all of that put in good standing in the couminuty,I say NO. If holding a comminuty in fear that a insane group of people living by a scued view of right and wrong because for some unknown reason, they spit in the eye of law and feel they are above the law.

Posted by: annonymous Location: unfortunately las animas on Aug 23, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I live right down the street from this house and I watched all most all of what happened. I believe that the police officers could have done more than what they did. I mean it shouldnt have lasted for 6 hrs. And the Las Animas police should have made sure every one on the block was out of the house. I had a friend walk out her house and did not know anything that was going on. The police were suprised that they forgot a house. The cops here dont know crap. I really hope that the victim and her children are doin ok.

Posted by: annonymous Location: formerly las animas on Aug 23, 2008 at 10:24 AM
vern wont do hard time for what he has done due to his familys high standings in las animas......i feel very sorry for the victim and her children and i hope to god the system looks past his family high standings and money and give him the time he deserves behind bars......thats the reason i left las animas because of the system.

Posted by: conceRned citizen n La Location: Las Animas on Aug 23, 2008 at 06:23 AM
More needs to be done to protect anyone in a situation such as this. This is not the first time vern faus has had a run in with the law for sexual assualt,(and He's not the first in his family to be charged with such a crime) and people like him should not be allowed to walk the streets of any community. Not only does it affect the victims, but there family and close friends as well. Many people in this small community have been affected by what vern faus did, just not Jennifer and her kids. After being charged with sexual molestation on a child back in june he should've never been allowed out of jail, let alone to walk the streets of the same town. Can anything ever be done to protect anyone from this sort of situation. Alot of people in this community, have been scared for life because of what one man has done, and yet blame can not be placed on anyone other than the Judicial system as a whole, LETS MAKE OUT COMMUNITIES AND STREETS SAFE FOR EVERYONE!!

Posted by: not cool Location: las animas on Aug 23, 2008 at 12:30 AM
okay first off.... this had nothing to with mark so all you guys who are comparing it to that you need to re-look at the situation!! mark was NEVER a child molester this guy needs to be locked up... maybe the inmates will treat him like he treated this poor little girl.... like i said DONT compare it to mark....

Posted by: Risa Location: Denver on Aug 22, 2008 at 03:51 PM
I sure hope justice is served this time. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cartmill family Much Love

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Las Animas on Aug 22, 2008 at 01:43 PM
The DA requested a $250,000 bond and the judge set the bond at $500,000. Thank you Judge Schifferl. Let's see if daddy can bail him out now!

Posted by: Billy on Aug 22, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I really hope that the "Justice" system realizes that if he gets out again, that the family may not be so lucky to survive. He is obviously a very sick individual that needs to be removed from society by any means. Any one that would hole themselves up for 6 hours is really capable of doing a lot more damage. I thank GOD that the family wasn't hurt worse than they were, and I hope that everyone realizes that the damage incurred is more than just physical, this will be emotionally & mentally devastating to the family that he abused for the rest of their lives. I hope you all will pray that the lord be with them!!!!

Posted by: gmak Location: las animas on Aug 22, 2008 at 10:30 AM
I would like to thank officer Pemberton for the efforts he set forth during this ordeal. He is to be commended by the community. Good Job Terry

Posted by: nieghbor Location: las animas on Aug 22, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I live right next door and i know the family. It was not right for vern to brake into the house and do that to jen and he should not ever be let out of prison because of his action. I know that jen didn't deserve what he did to her and the kids did noot deserve what he did to their mom. Jen and kids my family and I are praying for you and i hope that you are alright.

Posted by: unknown Location: LA on Aug 22, 2008 at 09:29 AM
What Vern had done is horrific, unfortunately he too has rights, we would like to put people in jail and throw away the key when they commit crimes such as he has but the justice system also has rules and regulations to follow. Vern has rights too, we may not want him to have any, but he does. The Justice system does what they are supposed to do according to the laws that are established for them to follow. It may not make much sense to the citizens but that is the way it is. The police department also does their job, they can't sit and stake out a house or follow a person around that has a restrainging order, the only way they would know if it is being violated is if they are called and told it has been violated. As far as the mother and child walking in front of the house, the street was barricaded off, there were police officers all over the place, what was she doing? Anyone with eyes could tell SOMETHING was going on there. The Judicial Dept does do it's job and does it well.

Posted by: donna Location: aurora on Aug 22, 2008 at 08:30 AM
I place alot of blame on his father Ron Faus! The apple doesn't fall to far from the tree. He is the one who has bailed him out twice. I'm Jen's mom, Jordan and Matt's grandmother, when Vern couldn't drive Ron drove him around to stock them wherever they went. Ron also knew Vern was going to do something and he did nothing. I want Vern to STAY IN JAIL TILL HE CAN BE SENTENCE TO PRISON WHERE HE BELONGS. The police should look at what Ron has done. I believe supporting Ron's business is supporting a criminal .

Posted by: Brandy Anlsey Location: California on Aug 22, 2008 at 08:07 AM
This is my exhusband and he had threatened and tried to kill me along with molesting our oldest daughter when she was 3. I tried to get him locked up almost 12 years ago and the system failed my daughter. I hope this time they do thier job and lock him up for good!!!!

Posted by: Lauri Location: Las Animas on Aug 22, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Being very close to this situation, I find the legal system does not protect innocent victims of violent crimes. The victims are forced to keep re-living these crimes over and over in an attempt to help convict. These victims re-live this abuse daily with the memories. Despite the fact that a restraining order has been in place for 2 months, it did not protect this family from further abuse. I commend the LAPD for the way they handled the situation and understand that the law is not entirely in their hands, they are just a small part of the judicial system. Unfortunately, until he is locked tight behind bars this family remains unsafe and in fear. Laws governing this type of abuse need to be examined and changed to protect the innocent.

Posted by: b Location: Las Animas on Aug 22, 2008 at 03:16 AM
this makes me sick i have a sister that lives nextdoor and a grandmother that lives 2 houses down he should not be let out for the safty of himself and others i feel bad for the poor kids and for jen i will be praying for them as for him when he goes to prison for this charge and the one brought up on him 2 months ago the other inmates will not look highly on him as for the officers i think they could have done a few other things right they should have not let a monther walking with a baby in the middle of the standoff walk infront of that house that angers me greatly!!!!

Posted by: Andrea Brandon Location: Pueblo/Las Animas on Aug 21, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Jen, everything is going to be all right...maybe this time his family won't bail him out seeing as how he can't behave himself! Hope you and the kids are doing ok! I grew up in this town and can't believe the people walking and living amongst us who act like this and who think that there are no repercussions for their actions...maybe now the time has come that people will pay attention to what is going on and not stand back and watch this happen...he's been let out once and violated his restraining order and now look what he's done!

Posted by: whocares Location: colorado on Aug 21, 2008 at 10:38 PM
thank god this wasnt another chasity case..glad the family is okay and hope the law does what should have been done the first time god bless you chasity

Posted by: Susie Location: Las Animas on Aug 21, 2008 at 09:06 PM
I feel bad for the family, as a parent we do the best we can. Again my heart goes out to the family.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:50 PM
i know the faus family very well and i pray thatthey are all doing okay i am very sorry to hear about what happened, and to comment on the comment below this man should not die for what he didhe just needs help thats all. Death is not the answer ever, and yes alot and i mean alot has been over looked in Las Animas and they need to start working on that cause this and everything else happening hear shouldnt have to happen!

Posted by: floyd Location: L.A. on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:29 PM
the swat team should of "rushed" the place and let vern take care of his problem and save the tax payer some money, cause in prison molesters rarey survive

Posted by: jt Location: las animas on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:14 PM
its about time we see action around here but its a little to late for ms stine didnt see this back when we needed help in the search for her

Posted by: neighbor to faus Location: las animas on Aug 21, 2008 at 05:18 PM
This is BS! I live very close to them and have kids of my own and he should have never been let out on bail. What is wrong with justice system! Not only was he let go before but another criminal Mark G. had over a year to be free to do whatever the hell he wanted before justice was served. Get on the ball justice system!!! You have let this town down way to many times!

Posted by: melissa Location: Las Animas on Aug 21, 2008 at 03:31 PM
this has been very toughing to me because i have people that i am close to that is close to the family(kids)and what he have done to those kids and this women should not be over looked like a lot of things that have happened in Las Animas he should be put away and not giving any happiness as for he has taken that away from them you don't do things like he has done and get away with it

Posted by: angel faus Location: La Junta, Colorado on Aug 21, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I am Vern's ex-sister in law and i fell justice has finally been served. This isn't the first time he has been abussive. I'm just glad that he finally can't hurt anymore people.

Posted by: person Location: co on Aug 21, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Sorry to say but they should of just killed the sick pig. What he has done to poor innocent children is WRONG. The judge should of never let him out on bail! This is his 2nd offense! Sorry to his immediate family but he should be hung!

Posted by: Randy Faus Location: Denver on Aug 21, 2008 at 01:30 PM
I would like to apologize on behalf of my cousin vern. It is embaressing and I hope people do not hold this against out family. My cousin has been under alot of stress lately, but this does not excuse his actions. I do hope Jennifer is alright and if she needs anything please let me know.

Posted by: Lucy Location: Las Animas, Co. on Aug 21, 2008 at 01:13 PM
It appears this person, Vern Faus, is very disterbed and in need of serious help. I hope, this time he receives the help he needs,and he is not able to be bailed out of jail, for a minut amount of money again. Enough is enough!

A.G. Mukasey Collapses During Speech
Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed during a speech Thursday night and lost consciousness, a Justice Department official said. The 67-year-old Mukasey was rushed to a local hospital, where his condition was not immediately known.
Clinton On Track For State Department Nod
An aide to Barack Obama's transition team says the president-elect is on track to nominate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state by next Thursday.
Report: U.S. Influence Will Fade By 2025
Analysts gazing into what amounts to an intelligence-based crystal ball see a future world marked by dwindling resources, more people and diminished power for the United States, as CBS Correspondent Bob Orr reports.