Police: Man who attacked real estate agent threatened her with knife, mace

A real estate agent who was attacked by a man posing as a customer fired a shot at him after he threatened her with a knife and sprayed her with bear mace, according to Commerce City police.

Ernest Robert Chrisman, 43, is charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, attempted aggravated robbery, attempted second-degree kidnapping, menacing and violation of bail bond conditions — all felonies.

He also faces a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge and a sentence enhancer of crime of violence, according to an Adams County District Attorney’s Office news release.

The real estate agent told police she was preparing for an open house at a condominium in the Aspen Hills Condominiums in the 14700 block of East 104th Avenue when a man walked in and asked to see the home, Detective Cody Nau wrote in an arrest affidavit.

The real estate agent had seen a man knocking to enter the unit next door minutes earlier.

A neighbor’s doorbell camera caught the man entering the residence on video. Chrisman allegedly talked to the real estate agent about the condo and then asked to see the second floor. He told the real estate agent he was a Marine, according to the affidavit.

Chrisman then pulled a knife from his waistband, followed by bear mace, tied to a 6-inch piece of rope attached to his belt. Each time he pulled an item from his pants, he would announce what it was to the agent, the document stated. He demanded the woman take her ring off and get in the closet when they were in the master bedroom, according to the affidavit. Her ring is estimated to cost $8,000.

Fearing for her life and saying she was in “disbelief,” the woman drew a handgun from her ankle holster and pointed it at the man, who then sprayed her with the bear mace, the documents stated.

The real estate agent fired a round at the suspect, who police do not believe was struck, and he fled the residence.

The woman was treated for minor injuries and the suspect had a minor cut, according to the affidavit. The incident also left about $100 in property damage.

The bullet was found in the unit to the south of the condominium she was showing, and police found a Glock 43 9mm handgun with dried blood at the top side and base of the grip on the kitchen counter when they responded to the scene, according to the affidavit. Detectives also found orange residue on the wall in the master bedroom, consistent with bear repellent. They also found a knife on the bed.

CBI records matched fingerprints found on a brochure for the condo with Chrisman’s, and he was found to have two active warrants for failures to appear in court, according to the affidavit. The real estate agent identified Chrisman in a lineup.

Chrisman is being held in the Adams County Jail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. on Sept. 4.