SWAT team takes man into custody after hourslong standoff in West Hollywood

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- An hourslong standoff in West Hollywood ended peacefully Sunday morning after a SWAT team used tear gas to coax a barricaded man out of an apartment.

The incident began about 11:15 p.m. after the unidentified suspect holed himself up in a residence in the 8200 block of De Longpre Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He was later identified as 36-year-old Benjamin Owen Hales.

Authorities responded to a report of a disturbance at the location, where a resident told deputies that "he walked out of his apartment temporarily and left his door open and unlocked, (and) when he returned his door was closed and locked," a news release said.

The resident "believed someone was in his apartment and was refusing to come out," the sheriff's statement said.

Deputies from the agency's Special Enforcement Bureau assumed command of the tactical response, as members of the sheriff's crisis negotiation team worked to bring the standoff to a close.

According to authorities, several verbal attempts were made in an attempt to persuade Hales to surrender. He allegedly continued his refusal to give himself up even after tear gas was deployed into the apartment.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident after the SWAT team entered the residence about 7:15 a.m., sheriff's Capt. Sergio Aloma said. Deputies were seen escorting the suspect out of the apartment in handcuffs.

No injuries were reported.

Hales was booked on suspicion of burglary and vandalism, the news release said. He was being held in lieu of $55,000 bail.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the sheriff's West Hollywood station at (310) 855-8850.