SWAT team members arrested a San Dimas man accused of threatening his adult son with a handgun Saturday following a stand-off that lasted more than six hours, authorities said.
Michel Zerrudo, 57, was ultimately booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats shortly before 2 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. David Buckner said. After holing up inside his home for more than six hours, he exited the home and surrendered.
The incident began about 7:35 a.m. at the home in the 100 block of Calle Renata when Zerrudo became involved in an argument with his adult son and pointed a handgun at him, Sgt. Rebecca Rodriquez said.
The son managed to get away from his father unhurt, and other family members also exited the home, the sergeant said. But Zerrudo himself remained in the house and refused orders to come out and surrender.
The cul-de-sac was evacuated, and heavily armed deputies from the Sheriff’s Enforcement Bureau, along with their armored vehicles, arrived at the scene a short time later.
“We heard the helicopter saying, ‘Come out with your hands up,” said neighbor Gloria Gonzalez, 48.
Minutes later, she said deputies with rifles in hand came to her home and told her she needed to evacuate due to a man nearby with a gun.
Several residents, such as 59-year-old Susan Lukachie, said deputies had them leave their home by climbing ladders over their backyard fences in order to stay out of harms way.
Lakachie said she saw her neighbor standing near the window of an upstairs bedroom. He yelled something to the deputies, though she could not make out what it was.
A crisis negotiator made contact with the holed-up suspect, but Zerrudo continued refusing to exit the home.
A loud bang consistent with that created by a flash-bang grenade was heard from the home about 1 p.m., however officials could not confirm whether a flash-bang grenade was deployed into the home. Several quieter popping noises were heard coming from the home minutes later, though the source of the sound was not clear.
Zerrudo came out of the home and surrendered to deputies just before 2 p.m., as deputies were preparing to pump tear gas into the home.
About two-dozen evacuated residents who waited at a nearby corner were advised to move back to avoid being exposed to tear gas just before Zerrudo surrendered.
They said Zerrudo lived at the home with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. But the son and his wife were in the process of moving out.
Zerrudo moved in about three years ago, Lakachi said.
Though Lukachie said she had only spoken with Zerrudo two or three times, he had mentioned an affinity for firearms during those brief contacts.
“He said he collects guns,” she said.
Buckner said several guns were found inside the home, though it was unclear if the handgun believed to have been used to threaten his son was among them.
The neighbors made the best of their unexpected evacuation, setting up an impromptu picnic with donuts and pizza just beyond the yellow crime scene tape that cordoned off their street.
They erupted into cheers when deputies drove by with a handcuffed Zerrudo in the back seat of a patrol car.