An Irvine condo complex near Terrapin and Cadence turned into a tense crime scene Wednesday afternoon when a man armed with a machete refused to let his relatives leave their home, prompting a full SWAT response and a dramatic ladder rescue, according to police.
The Irvine Police Department said the man barricaded family members inside the multi-level unit, with at least four relatives, including juveniles, gathered on the third floor while the suspect stayed on the first floor. A relative who was not at the condo called 911, which triggered the large police response, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Officers quickly flooded the area and blocked off nearby streets as they tried to reach the man and his relatives. In a public safety alert on Nextdoor, Irvine police told neighbors there was a large police presence near Terrapin and Cadence due to a family dispute and said any residents directly affected would be contacted by an officer.
Rescue and response
With negotiations dragging and family members still stuck on the upper floor, officers eventually turned to a more hands-on solution. After roughly an hour, police used a ladder to reach the third-floor relatives and helped them climb out to safety while tactical units held a perimeter and negotiators continued trying to contact the man, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The Irvine Police Department deployed its SWAT team, sealed off part of the neighborhood and kept residents back as the standoff unfolded. As of late Wednesday afternoon, officers said the suspect remained inside the condo.
Neighborhood reaction and context
People living in and around the Great Park area reported seeing a heavy and sustained police presence as patrol cars, SWAT vehicles and other units converged on the scene and held their positions while officers worked the case.
The midweek scare comes on the heels of another barricade incident in Irvine in early January, when officers responded to a separate suspect holed up inside a condo. That earlier situation ended with the person surrendering without injuries, as reported by MyNewsLA.
As of Wednesday evening, Irvine police had not released the machete suspect’s name or any potential charges. Investigators asked anyone with information to contact the department. In its Nextdoor update, the agency said it would continue to share information through official channels and thanked residents for their patience while officers worked to resolve the case.
