Carlsbad 16-hour standoff resolved peacefully
By SDCN Editor
Carlsbad, CA–A 54-year-old man who was experiencing a mental health crisis, and was armed with a loaded handgun inside a vehicle, surrendered peacefully after a 16-hour standoff with Carlsbad police.
The man’s identity is not being released due to medical privacy laws. He was transported to a local area hospital for assessment and care.
The Carlsbad Police Department was originally alerted Thursday evening to a person in distress in a parking lot along Loker Avenue West, just north of Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad.
Businesses along Loker Avenue West were asked to delay opening Friday morning out of an abundance of caution, while officers closed Loker Avenue West from Palomar Airport Road to just west of El Fuerte Street.
Carlsbad police created a perimeter around the man who was in a vehicle in a public parking lot, while negotiations took place. Officers were on the scene through the night with specially trained crisis negotiators.
“We would like to thank our community for their patience and for avoiding the area so we could bring this difficult situation to a peaceful conclusion,” said Carlsbad Police Chief Mickey Williams. “This incident really shows the value of de-escalation training, especially related to people who may be having a mental health crisis.”
The Carlsbad Police Department and their partners at the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Oceanside Police Department assisted in bringing the incident to a peaceful resolution.
