Lake Elsinore standoff: Man threatened relative with sword, arrested

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (KABC) -- A Lake Elsinore man was arrested after he allegedly threatened a family member with a sword and held another elderly family member hostage during a standoff with authorities.

Riverside County sheriff's deputies responded to the 800 block of Graham Street around 2 p.m. Saturday about a reported assault with a weapon. The man, later identified as 47-year-old John Kirby, allegedly threatened to hurt a relative with a sword. That relative escaped the home, but another elderly relative did not and was held hostage.

Kirby initially refused to surrender and barricaded himself inside the home. As a result, a SWAT team was called in. The sheriff's department asked people to avoid the area of Graham Avenue, Lowell Street, Scrivner Street and Heald Avenue.

The elderly relative was eventually let go and Kirby turned himself in peacefully. He was arrested for making criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Deputy Innes from the Lake Elsinore Station at (951) 245-3300.