LASD Update, 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at approximately 10:45 a.m., deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to the 29300 block of Hidden Oak Place in Canyon Country to a call for service regarding a possible fire at a residence. The call was updated to indicate that one of the occupants of the resident, a California Department of Corrections Parolee, was possibly armed with a gun and was threatening suicide. When deputies arrived they contacted the man’s mother who was standing in the front yard of a nearby house. The woman indicated that she was in fear of her son who was inside the house and was threatening suicide by lighting himself and the house on fire. She further indicated she smelled smoke before running out.

Out of concern for the family calling for help and the surrounding neighborhood, deputies immediately began an investigation and called for additional resources. Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Crisis Negotiation Team, Mental Health Evaluation Team and Special Enforcement Bureau were called to the location. During the course of the investigation roads in the area were closed and six homes were evacuated as a precautionary safety measure.

At approximately 1:55 p.m., members from the Crisis Negotiation Team began attempts to contact the man via phone. After speaking to the man and his family, deputies ultimately determined that there was no indication that the he was armed. Although the man continued to refuse to come out of the house, there was no indication that he was armed or posed any immediate risk to himself, his family, or the surrounding neighborhood.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Deputies formed the opinion there was no legal cause to force entry into the location and no one in immediate peril. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department resources were released from the area.

Due to the man’s current parole status, members from the California Department of Corrections, Parole Division, assumed command of the incident. As of 5:00 p.m. parole agents were continuing their investigation and conducting an assessment to determine if any further parole compliance action was warranted.

Residents were allowed back into their homes and all roads have been reopened. Santa Clarita Valley Deputies will continue directed patrols in the area and will assist the California Department of Corrections if warranted or requested of additional public safety concerns arise.

There is no further information at this time. The man’s name is not being released at this time.

UPDATED 3:00 P.M.

The Sheriff’s Station crisis management team made contact with the suspect at approximately 2:40 p.m.

They are still in communication and trying to get him to “peacefully step out,” according to Deputy Josh Dubin.

UPDATED 1:45 P.M.

The standoff continues between deputies and a potentially armed and suicidal man inside a residence on Hidden Oak Place.

Deputy Josh Dubin said that the station’s Crisis Management and Mental Health Evaluation teams are on scene, trying to make contact with the suspect.

A SWAT team is also at the scene on standby, in case they are needed.

“It’s still under investigation if he has a weapon,” Dubin said. “It’s still under investigation if a crime has occurred.”

He said that this may just be a mentally unstable individual “who needs our help.”

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UPDATED 12:20 P.M.

About six homes have been evacuated near the home that deputies have surrounded, said Sgt. Richard Nagler.

Residents are not being evacuted to any specific location, just out of the area.

“We don’t know anything about any explosives. We just want to be careful in case there’s any gunfire,” Nagler said.

ORIGINAL STORY

Santa Clarita deputies responded to a house on the 29000 block of Hidden Oak Place in Canyon Country after reports that there was a potentially armed and suicidal person inside.

“We have a situation where we got a call of a possible structure fire in Canyon Country,” said Sgt. Richard Nagler of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “We were updated to the call that the person had possible mental issues and may be armed and dangerous.”

Deputies are evacuating residents in the area.

“We’ve set up and we’re trying to determine exactly what’s going on,” Nagler said.

California Highway Patrol units are en route to assist with road closures.

Witnesses are reporting that three ambulances, paramedics, a fire truck and patrol cars have responded to the scene. A SWAT team is also en route.

“There’s police tape all over my neighborhood,” said Thresa Katz, resident of Begonias Lane and co-host of Friday Matinee on KHTS AM-1220. “I am at the corner of Edgeview Place and Begonias.”

A crisis negotiator is being called to the scene.

No one has been hurt at this time, Nagler said.