HESPERIA – A male subject was taken into custody at gunpoint just before 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night following what appeared to be a standoff with a multiple-station police response. The 58-year-old man who was located at the Smoke Shop at 17152 Main Street near G Avenue had tripped over a bush while carrying something and medical aid was requested for his injured leg.
“It appears as though the customer who called for medical aid got into an argument with the male store owner at the location,” said Hesperia Station spokeswoman, Karen Hunt. “The customer told dispatchers that he [the store owner] had a gun at the place of business, which is legal.”
When they arrived, per scanner traffic, the man became aggressive with the San Bernardino County Fire Department medics, who requested emergency deputy assistance at approximately 7:40 p.m. While deputies were enroute, fire officials told dispatchers that the man had a gun and barricaded himself inside the smoke shop and turned out all of the lights. When deputies arrived, they again confirmed that the man did have a gun inside of the store and was near the door area of the store.
Adjoining stores in the small mutil-unit commercial complex were evacuated as a precaution during the ordeal. Traffic was also blocked for a short period on Main Street from Jellico and G Avenues. SWAT was requested to assist, but per scanner traffic, when asked at 7:52 p.m. for their ETA (estimated time of arrival) authorities were told by dispatchers that a message was left on their voicemail and they were waiting for a return call. Several PA announcements were made and the suspect did not respond. Deputies, after determining that there was no threat made or crime committed, cleared the scene at around 9:00 p.m.
At 9:25 p.m. 24/7 Headline reporters witnessed a limping male exited the store, and get into a white Toyota Camry that was parked in front of the store. Approximately 1 minute later, several unmarked units quickly responded, the deputies slowly approached the vehicle with weapons drawn and took the male into custody at gunpoint. The male subject did not appear to resist arrest but did verbally scream out unintelligibly. Hunt said that the male store owner was found to be intoxicated and was arrested for public intoxication in the parking lot of the store.
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