A potential home burglary prompted the lockdown of a Saugus neighborhood and a four-hour standoff Friday afternoon.
However, after calling in officers from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and additional units from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) and Air Rescue 5, no suspect was found in the 21600 block of Grovepark Drive.
“A victim came home and saw someone in their house and a broken window indicating a burglary might have occurred and called us,” said Sgt. Brian Shreves of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “We thought someone was still in the house and we did our workup… We went in, cleared the house and nobody was there.”
According to Shirley Miller, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, the homeowners of the residence were on vacation. The victim, an individual checking in on the house, spotted the suspect who was dressed in all black and called officers.
Deputies responded to the scene in full tactical gear and closed down neighborhood streets in the immediate area surrounding Grovepark Drive, near Caraway Lane, to investigate the situation and determine if the suspect was armed and still in the home.
There was potential the suspect had access to weapons at the house while inside, according to Lt. Ignacio Somoano of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
In addition to SEB and Air Rescue 5, the Santa Clarita Valley units requested a crisis negotiation team, who were not used in the incident.
Before deputies discovered the house was unoccupied, officers with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department gave instructions to the suspect over their vehicles’ loudspeakers.
“This is the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. We have the house surrounded. Come out with your hands up, you will not be hurt,” a deputy said over the loudspeaker. “Walk slowly out of the front door with your hands up, you will not be injured.”
According to a Signal reporter on the scene, approximately two dozen people gathered at Grove Park, about 600 feet from the incident, to witness the situation.
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station also set up a command post at Saugus High School to assist with the incident.
Signal Multimedia Journalist Austin Dave contributed to this report.
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