An Ararat man is being held without bond in connection with a Sept. 29 incident that led to an alleged standoff and exchange of gunfire with Patrick County deputies.
Jason Chilton, 45, of 3609 Willis Gap Road, was charged with attempted malicious wounding and two counts of domestic assault and battery, according to the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to Chilton’s residence around 8 a.m. after receiving a report that a man was assaulting his elderly father, Sheriff Dan Smith has said. When deputies arrived, an elderly woman answered the door. A man then allegedly approached her from behind and swung a baseball bat at her. Deputies pulled her to safety as the suspect barricaded himself inside the home.
A standoff followed, and deputies from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office were called to assist, Smith said, and added the suspect allegedly appeared from a barricaded position at a front window, brandished a handgun, and fired at deputies through the glass. Deputies returned fire.
The sheriff said the suspect, who was the only person left inside, was taken into custody about 20 minutes later. No deputies were injured, and Chilton sustained minor injuries.
Smith asked the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations to handle the investigation, as is standard in deputy-involved shootings. Charges related to the shooting are pending from state police.
Chilton is being held without bond in the Patrick County Jail.
