by Irvine, California – A tense standoff unfolded Wednesday afternoon after police say a man armed with a machete allegedly held members of his own family — including children — inside their Irvine home for hours.
According to the Irvine Police Department, officers responded just after 2 p.m. local time to reports that four people were being prevented from leaving a residence near Terrapin and Cadence.
“We rapidly responded to the area and determined there was one suspect downstairs, and four people upstairs in a third-floor bedroom,” a department spokesperson said.
Children Among Those Trapped
Police later confirmed that children were inside the home during the incident. Authorities were initially alerted by a family member who was not present at the house and reported that someone inside was armed with a knife or machete.
The Orange County Fire Authority assisted officers in evacuating the four trapped individuals by using ladders to safely remove them from an upper floor.
All four individuals were safely rescued from the home.
SWAT Team, Drone, and Chemical Irritant Deployed
After the family members were evacuated, police focused on negotiating with the suspect, who remained inside the residence.
Authorities said they used a loudspeaker to communicate with the suspect from a safe distance. At one point, officers deployed a chemical irritant inside the home in an effort to encourage him to surrender peacefully.
Residents nearby were advised to go indoors and close windows and doors during the operation.
A SWAT team assisted, and police also deployed a drone to gain a better understanding of the situation inside the home.
“We’ve been working to safely resolve the situation, and I’m happy to report the suspect was just taken into custody,” a spokesperson said in a later update.
Suspect Taken Into Custody
By Wednesday evening, the suspect was arrested without further incident.
Police have not released the man’s identity as of Thursday, nor have they disclosed a possible motive. Authorities also indicated that investigators are looking into whether the family may have been confined inside the home for multiple days prior to the police response.
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Investigation Ongoing
The incident remains under active investigation, and charges have not yet been publicly detailed.
Officials thanked the community for its patience during the hours-long police presence and emphasized their goal of resolving the situation peacefully.
“As always, we work hard to resolve these situations in a peaceful and safe manner,” the department said.
No injuries were reported among the rescued family members or responding officers.
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