Nicholas Prochnau returned to the bar a short time later with two handguns and pointed them at patrons and employees.

Nicholas Prochnau, 25, of Colorado Springs, had attempted to leave the bar with a glass of alcohol in his hand.After bar employees took the alcohol away from him, Prochnau returned to the bar a short time later with two handguns and pointed them at patrons and employees.According to authorities, earlier that evening Prochnau had attempted to enter Poag Mahone’s with a glass of alcohol in hand and that, too, was taken away. Apparently, said sheriff Fred Jobe, when Prochnau tried to leave Poag Mahone’s with alcohol and it was taken away, he became angry.After bar employees called the sheriff’s office, deputies took Prochnau into custody at gunpoint, said Jobe. Prochnau was in danger of being shot by deputies, said Jobe, because he did not immediately respond to the deputies’ command to drop his weapon and lie on the ground. Jobe further noted only one gun was recovered at the scene, however, eyewitness accounts indicate Prochnau possessed two guns. Also, said Jobe, the gun that was recovered, a nine millimeter automatic, had the clip missing and there was no bullet in the chamber.
Prochnau was booked into the Custer County jail on charges of felony menacing with a weapon and prohibited use of a weapon.Prochnau later posted a $25,000 cash bond and was released. He will appear in Custer County District court at a later date.
Also arrested in connection with the incident was Rachel Patler, 21, of Westcliffe. Patler was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. She also later posted a $10,000 bond and was released.
Also with Prochnau was Candace Self, 27, of Colorado Springs, who was booked into the Custer County jail off two outstanding warrants out of El Paso County for contempt of court and failure to appear, as well as an outstanding warrant out of Pueblo County for assault.Self later posted an $18,000 bond for the out-of-county charges and was released.Locally, Self was charged with disorderly conduct.

Posted in: Custer County jail