Suspect arrested after 6-hour stand-off in South Whittier

A SWAT team used tear gas early Friday to end a six-hour standoff at a South Whittier home with a man brandishing what ultimately turned out to be a pellet gun, authorities said.
Adam William Samarin, 23, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he was taken into custody shortly before 3 a.m. at his home in the 9200 block of Laurel Avenue, just north of Mulberry Drive, in an unincorporated county area just south of Whittier, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials and county booking records.
Deputies responded to a report of a family disturbance involving an armed man about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
Samarin had become involved in an argument with his mother, who left the home when he retrieved what appeared to be a rifle, Lt. Eric Smitson said.
Samarin, who was alone at the home when deputies arrived, pointed the rifle at deputies on the ground as well as deputies hovering above in a helicopter before holing up inside the home and refusing orders to come out.
The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, or SWAT team, responded to the scene, as well as a sheriff’s K-9 and a crisis negotiator, officials said.
Deputies evacuated neighboring homes and advised others nearby via helicopter loudspeaker to stay inside and lock their doors.
Deputies fired tear gas into the home shortly before 3 a.m., prompting Samarin to jump or fall out a window of the home, Smitson said. He was taken into custody with the help of the K-9.
A pellet rifle and an “airsoft” gun designed to shoot larger, plastic BBs was recovered from the home, Smitson said.
Samarin was treated for dog bites and injuries he suffered while tumbling out of the window before being booked into jail, officials said.
According to county booking records, Samarin was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, scheduled Tuesday in Downey Superior Court.

– Jason Henry and Brian Day

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