A man whose Greenwood Village home was destroyed by police in a barricade situation is angry, claiming police used excessive force to get the job done.
"My house has been destroyed by a paramilitary unit," owner Leo Lech said Friday. "We'll have to basically doze it down to the foundation."
The home, at 4219 S. Alton St., has been condemned, Lech said.
Lech also fears that he'll be left alone to deal with the damage and aftermath.
His nightmare began Wednesday when Lech's 25-year-old son, who lives in the home and rents from his father, called and told him police had cordoned off the property and he couldn't get in.
On Thursday morning, his son called back.
"He said: 'The house is totaled!' " Lech recalled.
"I thought, they broke down the door, or fired tear gas through a window," Lech said. "When he showed me the pictures, I was just aghast — unbelievable!"
The bilevel home, built in 1974 and purchased by Lech a couple of years ago, now looks like it's in the middle of a battle zone.
Windows, front and back, were obliterated, blown out to the point of exposing the wooden frame of the house. Piles of wasted timber, wood framing, siding, exterior trim and decking are dotted around the house.
Portions of the landscape are torn up, looking like a tank or heavy equipment rumbled through.
Most of the damage to the home was caused by "some kind of explosive," Lech said. "I can tell you that for sure."
Scanner traffic during the incident also indicated authorities were using explosives at the house.
Greenwood Village police did not return calls Friday for comment and have not explained how they damaged the house or why they used so much force. Neighbors described sounds of gunfire and explosions when the standoff came to an end.

"Did what we had to"

Lech said he called police on Thursday but never got a return call until Friday morning — after he went to the home, where some officers were assigned, and Lech "made a scene."
Lech said Police Chief John Jackson told him: " 'Well, we did what we had to do.' "
"One suspect with a handgun, and they have to use this kind of force?" Lech said.
The incident started Wednesday when Aurora police responded to a report of shoplifting at a Walmart, at 9400 E. Hampden Ave., and the suspect was fleeing in a vehicle.
The shoplifting suspect drove to a light-rail station, where he ditched the car and took off on foot, police said.
He randomly picked Lech's home to hide in. A 9-year-old boy escaped the home unharmed.
Greenwood Village house in shambles after standoff
(Photo courtesy Leo Lech)
Power and water to the home, and neighboring homes, was shut off as police tried to coax the shoplifter out.
Members of the Greenwood Village Police Department, the Aurora Police Department and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department surrounded the home. After several hours, a Greenwood Village police team entered the home and was fired upon by the armed man, police said.
At about 8:50 a.m. Thursday, "officers and deputies entered the home again and safely removed the suspect," Greenwood Village police said in a media release.
The suspect, who has been arrested, was identified as 33-year-old Robert Jonathon Seacat. No one was injured in the incident.
Seacat was taken to a hospital for observation.
The home is insured, by Safeco Insurance, for $260,000, Lech said. The claim is being reviewed, and a clause about damage caused by "government agencies" may void coverage, he said.
Safeco could not be reached for comment Friday.
Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, said the claim likely will be covered.
She likened it to a kitchen fire, in which firefighters cause water damage to douse a fire.
"In any claim, there is a claims adjustor, and they will do their own investigation," Walker said. "Insurance will look at it on a case-by-case basis."

Home a crime scene

Greenwood Village also has contacted its insurance agency about the incident, said Matt Cohrs, assistant to the city manager. He described the home as a crime scene.
"We have already begun working with our insurance carrier," Cohrs said.
Both parties — the city and homeowner — should be working with insurers, Cohrs said.
"I can't speculate to terms of responsibility," Cohrs said. "There is a process that needs to be followed in what or may not happen."
Meanwhile, Lech's son and his family are staying with friends.
Lech said: "This is a complete disaster."