A lengthy SWAT standoff disrupted a Vallejo neighborhood for most of the day Wednesday, after a report of a man brandishing a firearm prompted a large police response. There were no reported injuries, and the incident concluded without any arrests.
The incident began around 9:48 a.m. when a victim called 911 to report a man with a gun who had “possibly” fled to a wood-shingle house at the corner of Illinois and Sutter streets, according to Vallejo police spokesperson Sgt. Rashad Hollis.
“The victim advised us that a man brandished a firearm,” Hollis said in a phone interview Wednesday. “We don’t believe the individual resides at the residence” into which the gunman allegedly fled, he told Open Vallejo.
The first two patrol officers arrived about five minutes after the initial call, Hollis said, adding that the police response was delayed somewhat because the victim relocated to a safe place before calling 911.
More officers soon arrived and set up a perimeter. They were later joined by the Vallejo Police Department SWAT, drone, and hostage negotiation teams. As the standoff wore on, police used drones and less-lethal munitions to clear the residence, before breaking down the perimeter around 5:20 p.m.
Authorities issued several alerts via text message and phone calls advising Vallejo residents to shelter in place. An alert issued just after 3:00 p.m. mistakenly labeled the incident an active shooter situation, which authorities corrected about 40 minutes later. Police lifted the shelter-in-place order at 6:58 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing. Hollis encouraged anyone with additional information to contact police.
Hollis confirmed that a three-legged pitbull seen running through the perimeter during the standoff was unharmed.
