Man accused of using baby as shield denied bail

A man accused of barricading himself and using a baby as a shield after brutally beating his girlfriend and roommate was denied bail and remains in jail waiting to face a judge. 

Maricopa Police Department arrested Brendan Cheromiah last month after a standoff with cops lasted more than an hour in Rancho El Dorado, according to a probable cause statement obtained by InMaricopa.  

Officers responded to a home on West Rio Grande around 10 p.m. Aug. 17 where a woman said Cheromiah choked, kicked and bit her. 

A roommate said Cheromiah dragged his girlfriend through the house and kicked her while she was curled up on the floor.   

Cheromiah allegedly punched his roommate in the throat and threatened to kill a child in the home.  

According to police, Cheromiah barricaded himself in the home and used a baby as a human shield in an attempt to evade arrest. After an hour-long standoff, officers were able to safely tase him and bring him into custody. He was later booked into jail. 

A Pinal County Superior Court judge arraigned 32-year-old Brennan D. Cheromiah Sept. 1 after a grand jury indicted him on eight counts of kidnapping, assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, threatening and intimidating. 

He faces 44 years and 6 months in prison and up to $1.2 million in fines. 

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