Jeffrey Schoeller, 61, of Aztec, was at the center of an April 6 SWAT standoff on County Road 2842 in Aztec.
Jeffrey Schoeller, 61, of Aztec, was at the center of an April 6 SWAT standoff on County Road 2842 in Aztec.

An Aztec man who is legally prohibited from possessing firearms held two SWAT teams at bay for nearly 15 hours Monday, shooting at a police drone and a police robot before he was arrested.

Jeffrey Schoeller, 61, was arrested outside his home on County Road 2842. Inside the residence, law enforcement found 20 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition, according to a pretrial detention motion filed by the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office.

Schoeller was committed to the state hospital in 2022 after being found incompetent to stand trial. Under federal law, that status bars him from possessing firearms, according to the motion.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office was called at 7:04 a.m. March 6 to the home after reports that Schoeller had fired multiple shots at a neighbor’s house, according to an arrest affidavit.

Neighbors Eddie and Misty Padilla told authorities they were outside when the shooting began. It was not an isolated incident; Eddie Padilla built a berm to prevent projectiles from striking residences on his property, the affidavit said.

Investigators found two defects about 3 feet above a bedroom window and believe they were caused by gunfire, according to the affidavit.

Deputies arrived at the property at 8:07 a.m., but Schoeller refused to leave the home. SWAT teams from the Farmington Police Department and New Mexico State Police responded.

Timeline of events

7:04 a.m. March 6: San Juan County Sheriff’s Office receives a report of shots fired at a neighbor’s home.8:07 a.m.: Deputies arrive; the suspect refuses to exit the residence. Midday: The suspect shoots one drone, causing about $300 in damage.9 p.m.: State police deploy a camera-equipped robot; the suspect fires multiple shots at it.11:45 p.m.: After nearly 15 hours, the suspect exits the home, refuses commands and is Tased and arrested. Post-arrest: Authorities find 20 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition inside the home.

Authorities deployed two drones to assess the property. Schoeller shot one of them, causing about $300 in damage, the affidavit said.

Negotiations continued for more than 12 hours. At 9 p.m., New Mexico State Police sent in a camera-equipped robot to confirm Schoeller was armed. He fired multiple shots at the robot, according to the affidavit.

At 11:45 p.m., more than 2 hours and 45 minutes later, Schoeller exited the home, refused commands and was Tased by state police, the affidavit said.

Schoeller is charged with a fourth-degree felony count of shooting at a dwelling; a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer; two petty misdemeanor counts of negligent use of a firearm; and a petty misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.

He is being held at the San Juan County Detention Center pending a pretrial detention hearing, which has not been scheduled.