UPDATE: San Mateo SWAT Called to Scene of Burglaries

By Bay City News Service:

A SWAT team responded Wednesday night after a suspect brandished a gun at officers while fleeing the scene of multiple auto burglaries in San Mateo, police said Thursday.

Walter Mitchell, 22, and Andre Dupreelafluer, 26, were ultimately taken into custody on suspicion of auto burglary, evading police and brandishing a firearm at officers. Both men are residents of Oakland.

At approximately 7:20 p.m., a witness reported two men breaking into cars in the Central Parking Garage at East Fourth Avenue and South Ellsworth Avenue.

Before responding officers arrived, Mitchell and Dupreelafluer fled the scene in a silver Acura, police said.

After locating a vehicle matching that description on Fourth Avenue, officers initiated a traffic stop but Mitchell, the alleged driver, accelerated and ultimately lost control of the vehicle. After that, both men fled on foot, police said.

Dupreelafluer was taken into custody without incident, but Mitchell ran to a large apartment complex at the corner of South Eldorado Street and East Third Avenue.

Mitchell allegedly brandished his weapon at officers while running away, police said.

After that, officers set up a perimeter around the complex, shut down traffic on Third and Fourth avenues and called out the SWAT team.

Multiple officers from Burlingame, Foster City, Belmont, South San Francisco and Hillsborough responded to assist with the perimeter.

Mitchell was arrested without incident at 12:38 a.m. after officers spotted him near scaffolding at the apartment complex.

The handgun was not located, but police said detectives are searching the area for the weapon and any other evidence. Stolen property linked to the auto burglaries was located inside the suspect vehicle, police said.

During the search, nearby residents were asked to lock their doors and windows and to shelter in place.

The American Red Cross and the San Mateo Police Department also set up a public shelter for displaced residents.