A terrifying standoff unfolded in Southern California after police say a father allegedly held his own family hostage inside their home while armed with a machete.
The Irvine Police Department confirmed officers rushed to a home near Terrapin and Cadence just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, after receiving reports that four people were being prevented from leaving.
According to police, officers quickly determined that one suspect was downstairs while four individuals were trapped upstairs in a third-floor bedroom.
The Orange County Fire Authority helped rescue those inside by using ladders to safely evacuate them from the home.
Authorities initially warned that the suspect was believed to be armed with a machete and possibly still inside the residence. A large police presence surrounded the area as officers worked to resolve what they described as a family dispute.
At one point during the tense hours-long standoff, police said they were communicating with the suspect via loudspeaker from a safe distance. Officers later deployed an irritant into the home in an effort to encourage him to surrender peacefully. Residents nearby were advised to go inside and close their windows and doors.
CBS News reported that a SWAT team responded to assist local officers, and a drone was also used to monitor the situation from above.
Police were initially alerted after a family member who was not at the home called authorities to report that someone inside was armed with either a knife or machete. During the response, officers learned that children were among those trapped in the house.
Public Information Officer Kyle Oldoerp later confirmed in a video update that the suspect was taken into custody Wednesday evening without further incident.
Oldoerp told The Orange County Register it is possible the family had been held inside the home for days, though that detail has not been officially confirmed.
As of Thursday, Feb. 12, authorities had not released the suspect’s identity, and the motive behind the incident remains unclear. The investigation is ongoing.