A 47-year-old vandalism suspect holed up inside a condo in Irvine for more than eight hours surrendered to police on Sunday, following a standoff that began Saturday, authorities said.
The officers first went to the condo in the 700 block of Timberwood at 7:30 a.m. Saturday to talk to the man about allegedly vandalizing cars, Irvine police spokesman Kyle Oldoerp said.
“The suspect refused to answer,” he said.
On social media, police said: “While officers were on scene, it was discovered that a nearby home window had been shot with bullets. It was believed that the incidents were related.”
The suspect’s refusal to answer prompted officers to get a warrant for the man’s arrest, which they began trying to serve at the residence about 6 p.m., Oldoerp said. “We know he is in there,” Oldoerp said.
“Officers just used a distraction device that made a loud boom sound,” Oldoerp posted on X at 7 p.m.
At 3:15 a.m. on Jan. 4, the Irvine Police Department posted that “after more than eight hours of careful methodical work, our SWAT team safely took the individual into custody.”
Oldoerp said the man allegedly kicked two cars, damaging them and breaking one of the side mirrors. The motive was unknown, Oldoerp said.
“We have had prior contact with the suspect. He was known to our officers … We’re just glad that he was peacefully taken into custody,” he said.
Staff writer Israel Carreon contributed to this report.
