A Birmingham man who held lawmen at bay for more than three hours Tuesday could face federal charges after investigators found nearly three dozen weapons in his home.

Willie Lee Cooks, 44, surrendered about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. He had barricaded himself and several others inside his Mims Avenue home after the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force tried to arrest him at 2 p.m. He was sought on an outstanding warrant charging him with biting a Birmingham firefighter in May.

Chief Deputy Marshal Cliff LaBarge today said investigators recovered nine pistols and 22 long guns during a subsequent search of Cooks' home. Cooks is a convicted felon, and prohibited from being in the possession of any guns.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is running the guns to determine whether any of them are stolen. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Birmingham Police Department are working with U.S. Marshals on the joint probe.

LaBarge said it was more than concerning to enter the home after Cooks' surrender to find the cache of weapons. "We're very fortunate it ended peacefully,'' he said. "We had no idea 31 guns were in there. Anything could have happened."

Cooks was initially sought on charges of aggravated assault of a peace officer. The assault happened May 9 at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Authorities said Cooks became combative with a nurse and tried to punch her and then grabbed her. A firefighter then intervened to protect the nurse and others. It was then police say he bit the firefighter.

Family members and community activists at the scene said Cooks became combative because he woke up at the hospital and didn't know where he was. They said his confusion made him lash out.

Cooks has six previous felony convictions including drug and burglary charges. Police at the scene Tuesday said he is reported to be a gang member, and was known to be armed.

After refusing to come outside at the Marshals' request, authorities say Cooks then barricaded himself in the home. "The doors and windows were fortified with wood that hindered entry,'' LaBarge said. "It was fashioned to keep us out."

As the standoff began, dozens of children from an adjacent daycare were evacuated to nearby church. Negotiators were in communication with Cooks for much of the time.

Beginning about 4:15 p.m., SWAT members deployed tear gas into the home multiple times but still Cooks refused to come outside. Authorities believe he and those in the house with him, which included two women, were likely in the basement, which enabled them to temporarily escape the effects of the gas.

Shortly after 5 p.m., lawmen broke the windows and used a ladder to climb inside. It was then that Cooks and the others walked out the front. The others in the home are not expected to be charged with any crimes.

Cooks was booked into the Jefferson County Jail just after 6:30 p.m. He remains behind bars today, and held without bond.