A Kempner resident was arrested early Friday morning on two first-degree charges after he allegedly pointed a firearm at two Kempner Police Department officers Wednesday evening. Steven Neal, 25, is facing two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a public servant. He is being held in Lampasas County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
On Wednesday at 7:53 p.m., Neal reportedly contacted Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers and requested to speak with a law enforcement officer.
Kempner Police Chief Heriberto Rodriguez said two city police officers were dispatched and arrived at Neal’s residence at 7:58 p.m.
Kempner Mayor John Wilkerson told the Dispatch Record that when officers arrived at Neal’s front door, they were met with a deadly threat.
“When they go up and knock on the door, he opens up the door and creeps the door open and has a Glock handgun pointed at the officers,” Wilkerson said. “Initially, he denied saying he called for officers, and after everything was de-escalated he admitted he thought the officers were watching him.”
Wilkerson said the reason why Neal initially sought law enforcement assistance is unclear.
“It is not sure what exactly he said, and it’s not sure exactly what was relayed to our officers other than that guy wants to talk to law enforcement,” the mayor said. Wilkerson said Special Response Teams from the Bell County Sheriff’s Office and LCSO helped execute the arrest warrant at 5 a.m. Friday. Wilkerson said the two teams met at Kempner City Hall prior to executing the arrest to devise a plan of apprehension. Wilkerson emphasized the arrest went smoothly.
“An officer with a shield went out and knocked on the door, and announced a law enforcement presence,” he said. “And then they activated all the lights, hit the siren on the BearCat [a heavily armored tactical truck], and then started giving him commands to get out of the house.”
The Kempner mayor said Neal exited the residence without any struggle or resistance and was transported to jail.
According to the Texas Penal Code, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer, a first-degree felony, is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
