A man with a fake gun sparked a standoff with police when he refused to come out of a stolen car parked at a North Long Beach gas station Tuesday afternoon, according to authorities.
The situation started around 12:20 p.m. when police got a call reporting the person was sitting in the car with a gun near Long Beach Boulevard and Victoria Street, according to an LBPD spokesperson.
When officers arrived, they set up a perimeter around a blue Chevy El Camino where the man was believed to be holed up outside an AM/PM convenience store.
Police evacuated nearby businesses and locked down two nearby schools, including Colin Powell Elementary, according to authorities.
Over a loudspeaker, officers ordered the man to come out of the car, but he stayed put—at times throwing items out of the car’s window, holding out a note or putting his feet up.
Around 1:30 p.m., the man got out of the car and police appeared to shoot him with a less-lethal weapon before moving in and arresting him.
Police found a replica firearm as they took him into custody, LBPD spokeswoman Shaunna Dandoy said. After his arrest, crews took the man to a hospital “for mental evaluation and because he appeared to be under the influence,” Dandoy said.
Police said they don’t know yet what the man was doing in the area. They did, however, learn that the vehicle had been stolen in Compton, although the owner hadn’t yet reported the crime at the time of the standoff, police said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with more information from police.
