Bechtelsville >> Police have released information involving a standoff with a man that took place early Wednesday morning.
At around 2 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a camper located at Lazy K Campground, 109 Washington Road, Bechtelsville, for a report of shots fired, according to a press release from state police at the Reading barracks.
Police later interviewed a victim who stated that around midnight Tuesday she observed her neighbor, Brian Mravlja, 54, of Bechtelsville, shining a strobe light at their residence. This continued for a period of time and then she heard the sound of a firearm being fired that came from Mravlja’s camper, police said. Mravlja’s then drove from his camper and parked his vehicle outside of her residence and continued shining a strobe light in her window. He then began blowing the horn on his truck and yelling for 15 minutes. Mravlja then went back to his camper. When the victim’s boyfriend looked out the window, he observed Mravlja pointing a rifle at their camper.
When troopers arrived, they approached Mravlja’s camper, they saw him inside holding a firearm. They retreated to a safe position but he never exited the trailer, police said. A few hours later Mravlja peacefully surrendered to state police.
Reports from witnesses at the Lazy K Campground said state police were called at around 2 a.m. for the reported gunshot.
As police were still investigating, Mike Kelsch, owner of Lazy K Campgrounds, told The Mercury as much as he knew regarding the incident.
“I got a phone call that he was out drunk last night and then he was in playing with his gun and I don’t know if it was an accidental shot or if he shot it purposely. It came out the side so we called state troopers. State troopers came in and they basically went and approached him. He answered the door with the gun and basically, they’ve been trying to get him out since.”
Police began to clear the scene at around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and Mravlja was expected to be arraigned later that day.
State police were assisted on the scene by Boyertown Area Fire and Rescue and Bally Ambulance.
