Santa Monica Police End Freeway Standoff, BB Gun Recovered
A man suspected of brandishing a weapon on Interstate 10 was taken into custody Wednesday after a brief standoff that closed the freeway in both directions, police said.
The Santa Monica Police Department responded to the embankment near 17th Street after the California Highway Patrol reported a man believed to be holding a gun, according to a department statement released early Thursday.
The suspect fled beneath the 17th Street bridge before surrendering to officers without incident. Police recovered a BB gun at a nearby location that was connected to the incident.
No injuries were reported during the approximately 30-45 minute operation that required closing I-10 in both directions near 17th Street and Olympic Boulevard.
The department deployed resources from its SMART Center, including a drone, while the Los Angeles Police Department provided air support from above.
The freeway was fully reopened Wednesday evening, police said.
The incident occurred on an embankment that serves as a large homeless encampment, as area residents know.
Police withheld the suspect's identity pending investigation. The department emphasized its commitment to transparency and encouraged the public to access crime reports through its official website.