Chase ends in hours-long standoff at Commerce construction site; suspect in custody

COMMERCE, Calif. (KABC) -- A chase from Orange County led to an hours-long standoff at a construction site in Commerce and came to an end Monday morning.

An unidentified man, who was wanted on suspicion of DUI, was holed up at the construction area in the 7000 block of Bandini Boulevard. The man was seen waving a gun around at officers, at times pointing the gun at himself.

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said California Highway Patrol officials tried to pull over a green GMC truck around 11 p.m. on the 5 Freeway in San Juan Capistrano because the suspect was weaving in and out of traffic.

A chase then ensued until the suspect exited Garfield Avenue. He then ran from his truck, pointed a large-caliber handgun at his head and went into a business at the construction site.

Sgt. Bob Boese of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department said the area was full of workers at the time, and the suspect pulled his gun out.

"He went into one of the local businesses and started harassing and assaulting the employees at that business by pointing his handgun at them," Boese said.

All employees at the construction site were later evacuated, sheriff's officials said.

Officials confirmed the scene came to a peaceful resolution after the suspect was in contact with crisis negotiators and surrendered to sheriff's deputies. He was taken into custody at about 8:20 a.m.

Both sides of the 5 Freeway were shut down at 12:45 a.m. but reopened about two hours later.