Troopers Arrest Walton Man

After Standoff Over Girlfriend

WALTON – A Walton man is in custody after a standoff state police said was caused by domestic dispute and was resolved in part by use of a robot.

Yesterday at 11:49 a.m., state police at Sidney received a report of a woman leaving her home after being threatened by her boyfriend with a gun on Lower Third Brook Road in the Town of Walton.

An investigation determined that during a physical domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Arthur E. Veprovsky, 58, of Walton, grabbed a long gun and threatened to kill her and police, according to a state police press release.

Troopers responded and made contact with Veprovsky; however, he refused to come out of his home.  While a perimeter was set up around the residence,  State Police Crisis Negotiators and Special Operations Response Team (SORT) responded to assist.

Telephone contact was made with Veprovsky, but he still refused to surrender.  Eventually, SORT introduced a robot into the home and Troopers made visual contact with Veprovsky.  At about 9:30p.m., SORT entered the home and took Veprovsky into custody without any further incident.

Veprovsky was arrested for the misdemeanor of menacing 2nd and was arraigned at the Town of Walton court and remanded to the Delaware County jail with no bail set.  An order of protection was issued by the court against Veprovsky and additional charges are pending.