11:01am | Long Beach police took two burglary suspects into custody Friday after a standoff in East Long Beach that locked down an entire neighborhood, police said.
The standoff began after police responding to a report of a residential burglary at a home in the 2300 block of Stearnlee Avenue at about 10 a.m. Friday, April 29, arrived at the location just as the burglary suspects were exiting the home, Long Beach Police Department Sgt. Rico Fernandez said.
The suspects ran back into the home and refused to come out, Fernandez said.
Police locked down the East side neighborhood using a reverse 911 system to alert residents to remain indoors. Officers sweeping the area also instructed residents to stay inside their homes as the officers swept the area.
Motorists were also advised to avoid the surrounding area, police said.
Police in a helicopter ordered the suspects to come out of the house with their hands up using a bullhorn, police said.
The first suspect was arrested when a police dog being used to search the neighborhood found a man in his 20s hiding in a backyard trashcan, police said.
A second suspect was arrested after he, too, was found skulking in a backyard.
The alleged burglars’ names were not immediately released.
Although police believed there may have been a third suspect, about eight hours after the standoff began, the sweep was called off.