Hostage Negotiators, SWAT Respond In Benicia Standoff: Police

BENICIA, CA — Hostage negotiators continued talking Thursday evening with a Benicia resident who claims he is armed and has threatened to harm a relative who lives with him, police said. At about 3 p.m. Thursday, Benicia Police Department dispatchers received a call from the person who made the claims from a home in the 300 block of East H Street, police said.

At the request of Benicia police, the sheriff's SWAT team was deployed to the apparent standoff. Hostage negotiators were talking with the suspect via phone.

As of 7:15 p.m. Thursday, the incident in the Rancho Benicia area was ongoing. Police said for the public's safety, streets in the area remain closed. Neighbors who were evacuated or asked to shelter in place should continue to do so, police said.

"... We are asking everyone to stay away from the area of [the] 300 block of East H Street," police said via Facebook.

Residents affected by the situation were alerted via text or if necessary, by officers going to door to door, Benicia Police Department Spokeswoman Irma Widjojo told Patch.

"Hostage negotiators are still talking to the suspect to peacefully resolve the situation," police said via Facebook at 7:15 p.m. "No injuries reported at this time. Please continue to stay away from the area or shelter in place if you are resident of immediate area."

Patch will update this post as more information becomes available; please refresh the page for the latest.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.