Pizza Delivery Driver Pistol-Whipped, Car Jacked

SANTA ANA, CA —A Pizza Hut delivery driver was the victim of a carjacking and violent attempted robbery that led to an all-night standoff, Santa Ana police said.

Santa Ana Police responded Tuesday when the pizza delivery driver reported being a victim of the attempted robbery and carjacking and had been "pistol-whipped" during the incident.

Ralph Marin, 26, allegedly attempted to get into the pizza delivery driver's car but ran away on foot when police approached, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department. Officers pursued on foot of the suspect but lost sight of him.

Shortly after that, a resident of the 3200 block of South Thornton Street, near Bear Street, reported that an "armed man had entered his home," and that his family remained inside, Bertagna said. His wife, daughter, and grandchild were locked in an upstairs room until police arrived.

Authorities responded to the home and got the rest of the man's family out of the house safely, but the suspect refused to exit, Bertagna said, and the standoff with Marin ensued.

Police attempted to get Marin a cell phone, which remained unanswered. A robot was also sent in to get a clearer picture of the inside of the home.

Helicopters circled the area for hours after during the standoff. The SWAT team fired flash-bang grenades into the home about 4 a.m. Wednesday, but the suspect remained inside. Ultimately, three hours after the standoff began, a K-9 officer sniffed out Marin's location in the home, leading to his surrender and arrest. Marin was treated at an area hospital for dog bites he received during the arrest.

The pizza delivery driver was treated at an area hospital and later released.