A man suspected of assault was taken into custody early Friday morning after barricading himself for several hours inside a homeless housing facility, police said.
The suspect surrendered around 12:05 a.m. Friday, ending an incident that began when Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to the 1400 block of Michigan Avenue around 9 p.m. Thursday for a reported assault.
Police deployed Special Weapons and Tactics and crisis negotiation teams during the standoff. The man was taken to a hospital as a precaution before being booked into the Santa Monica Jail on suspicion of assault, according to stringer service RMG News.
Officers remained on scene for several hours after the suspect's arrest as the investigation continued. Police later thanked the community for its patience as officers worked to safely resolve the situation.
According to RMG News, emergency crews were initially called after an elderly woman was allegedly assaulted inside the facility at 1413 Michigan Avenue. When officers located the suspect, who was said to be living on the fourth floor, he refused to come out and barricaded himself inside.
Police evacuated the building before deploying tear gas to clear remaining residents safely, RMG reported. The suspect's identity was not initially released. It remains unclear whether he was armed or what led to the initial confrontation.
The building, known as The Laurel, is a homeless housing facility that opened last October, according to developer EAH Housing's website. The project partners with The People Concern to provide resident services like case management, mental health support, and assistance with daily living.
EAH is the housing developer responsible for a new project at the site of former Parking Structure 3 in Downtown Santa Monica. That project has been controversial for removing the parking, the kind of housing going in and delays to the project that have resulted in the site becoming temporary pickleball courts. Residents have also objected to the government subsidy for that project at an estimated cost of more than $1 Million per unit.