Leesburg Man Sprayed Fire Extinguisher At Officers, Charged At Them With A Drill: Police

LEESBURG, VA — On Wednesday, a Leesburg man sprayed a fire extinguisher toward police officers, started a fire, and charged at an officer with a drill, according to the Leesburg Police Department.

Police identified the man as 53-year-old Elmer Portillo. He is charged with two felony counts of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, one felony count of obstruction of justice, and one felony and one misdemeanor count each of destruction of property.

Portillo is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. He was arraigned in court on Thursday and his next court date is scheduled for Sept. 27, according to court records.

Around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Leesburg police officers responded to a home in the 300 block of Waterfield Terrace NE. A report described a man in the home who was destroying items and being aggressive toward others, the police department said.

As the officers approached the front door, Portillo sprayed a fire extinguisher at them while yelling obscenities, according to the police report. He then threw a bottle at the officers, grabbed a drill, and shut the door, police said.

Officers said they saw Portillo "ignite combustible items in the kitchen, which caused a fire." The officers forced their way into the home as the blaze began to spread, according to a news release from the police department.

The police department said Portillo then lunged at one of the officers with the spinning drill. The drill hit the officer in the upper body. Authorities said the officer was not injured, as the drill hit their body-worn camera.

One officer used an electronic control weapon, commonly known as a TASER, on Portillo. Officers reported that Portillo was not complying with the officers' commands.

Authorities said Portillo was taken into custody after he kicked an officer in the lower body. The officers were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to the rest of the home, the police department said.

The Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating the fire.