Police Abort Standoff With Man At Sebastopol Home

Sebastopol police decided discretion was the better part of valor Wednesday when they walked away from a standoff to avoid a possible violent confrontation with a distraught man who locked himself in his home, a police sergeant said.

A woman called police around 1 p.m. to report her grandson Alexander Moser was ranting and making threats to kill his brother, Sgt. David Ginn said. The woman said she was afraid to go back into her Juniper Avenue home because Moser was still inside, Ginn said.

Police learned Moser, 33, was on felony probation for a DUI causing injury conviction.

They found Moser sitting on the front porch of the residence but he went inside and locked the door, Ginn said.

Police, including a K-9 unit, set up a perimeter around the house and made several commands for Moser to surrender, but there was no response, Ginn said.

“Based on the nature of the violations and the high likelihood that Moser could be apprehended at a later time, the decision was made to clear the scene,” Ginn said.

“This was also based on the potential that, although lawful, a forced entry to the residence could incite a violent response from Moser,” he said.

Police and the Sonoma County Probation Department obtained an arrest warrant for Moser and returned to the residence around 5 p.m., Ginn said. With help from another resident who had returned to the house, police entered and arrested Moser without further incident, Ginn said.

Moser was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest and violating probation, Ginn said.

• A recent situation involving grandparents and a standoff in Santa Cruz County: TRAGEDY: Teen, 17, Shot, Killed By Santa Cruz Deputy Allegedly Beat Grandpa, Killed Kitten

--Bay City News

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