Hours-long standoff leads to arrest of South Lake Tahoe man

10AM UPDATE 7/3: The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) said Tanner Delacruz, 33, of South Lake Tahoe, was arrested by their SWAT team after refusing to surrender. They said over the past couple of weeks, SLTPD had been called to the 1200 block of Margaret Ave. on multiple occasions for
Delacruz acting in violent and erratic behavior.

"During the responses by SLTPD, it was learned Delacruz was habitually acting violent and unpredictable, throughout his neighborhood," said SLTPD Lt. Scott Crivelli. "On multiple occasions, Delacruz vandalized neighbors’ property, disturbed their peace, and trespassed on others’ property. A warrant to arrest Delacruz was issued for felony vandalism and disturbing the peace. A search warrant for Delacruz’s house was also granted."

Police responded to the suspect's home on July 2 at around 2:30 p.m. after neighbors said Delacruz was acting violent and erratic towards them in front of his home.

Crivelli said they sent SWAT and crisis negotiators the handle the arrest.

"Delacruz was continuously creating a dangerous environment for the neighborhood affecting the quality of the life for the residents," said Crivelli.

After the suspect refused the hours-long attempts at getting him to surrender, tear gas was deployed into the home. Delacruz still refused to surrender. During the standoff, a fire started in the home. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue quickly extinguished and the cause remains unclear this morning.

Once SWAT made entry to the home around 9 p.m., it was determined the suspect had barricaded himself in the crawlspace under the house. Crisis Negotiators were able to make verbal contact with Delacruz, who still refused to surrender. OC (Oleoresin Capsicum), more commonly known as “pepper spray” was deployed into the crawl space. Delacruz finally exited the crawlspace but was still uncooperative. Delacruz threw a handful of dirt into an SLTPD crisis negotiator’s face as he exited the crawlspace and was being taken into custody.

Delacruz remains in custody and his bail amount has yet to be set, Crivelli said. The charges equal a $4,000 bail but it has not been officially set at the jail.

"SLTPD would like to thank the neighborhood for their patience, assistance and understanding during the execution of this incident," added Crivelli.

7AM UPDATE 7/3: The man arrested after the standoff has been identified as 33-year-old Tanner De La Cruz. While exact details have not been released, the suspect is facing charges of Felony Aggravated Obstruction/Resisting Arrest, Felony Vandalism, and Misdemeanor charges of Battery of a Peace Officer, Disturbance of the Peace, Public Nuisance, and Obstruction of Emergency Personnel. Bail is $4,000 at this time.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One man is in custody after an hours-long standoff in South Lake Tahoe Sunday.

At approximately 2 p.m. on July 2, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) arrived at a home in the 1200 block of Margaret Avenue to speak to the resident about an ongoing issue with a neighbor.

The man in the home refused to come out. The SLTPD SWAT team arrived and asked the suspect to come out of the home so they could serve a search warrant and later an arrest warrant. For hours, SWAT Supervisor Sgt. Nick Carlquist spoke over a loudspeaker, asking the suspect to exit the home.

SLTPD SWAT used flash bangs to encourage the suspect to come out, but he stayed inside.

At approximately 7:19 p.m., there was a fire in the rear of the home on the second floor, and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue arrived and extinguished it from the outside. The cause of the fire has not been released.

At approximately 9:00 p.m., the suspect was found in a crawl space under the home. The negotiator tried to talk him out. SLTPD could see him from an exterior vent and used pepper spray. The suspect came out and was transferred to Barton Hospital to get cleared for booking.

According to SLTPD Lt. Scott Crivelli, the suspect did not have injuries.

Crivelli said there was a peaceful resolution to the situation, which was the goal.

This is a developing story and it will be updated once more details are available.