ELLERY - What seemed to be a typical traffic stop turned tense early Saturday morning when Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies became involved in a brief standoff at a Bellview Heights home.
Deputies were interviewing Joshua G. Gulnac, 38, of 12000 Danby Road, Pineville, N.C., in the driveway at 4324 Belleview Heights at 12:33 a.m. about a traffic stop, when Brett J. Steffen, 29, a passenger in Gulnac's vehicle who had gone into his home to use the bathroom, exited the residence holding a handgun and yelling obscenities at deputies. Deputies held Steffen at gunpoint for several minutes until assistance arrived on the scene and then Steffen was taken into custody and charged with menacing a police officer. He is awaiting arraignment.
Gulnac was charged with speed in zone, driving while intoxicated and driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent or greater resulting from the original stop. He was processed and released.
Both will answer to charges in Town of Ellery Court.