LAKEWOOD (CNS) - A burglary suspect allegedly armed with an assault rifle was in custody today after a nearly nine-hour standoff with deputies in Lakewood .
Robert Arista, a 38-year-old transient, was booked on suspicion of burglary and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, with bail set at $200,000, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported.
Arista is expected to appear in court in Bellflower on Tuesday, sheriff's officials said.
Deputy Trina Schrader said the resident arrived home in the 5400 block of Spahn Avenue around 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning to find a stranger in the house and called the Lakewood Station.
“When deputies arrived, they saw the suspect walking around inside the home with an assault rifle. He then pointed the rifle at the deputies,'' Schrader alleged.
Special Enforcement Bureau deputies and a crisis negotiations team were sent to the scene, she said.
“After several hours and numerous attempts to have the suspect exit peaceful, SEB deployed gas into the house to persuade the suspect to exit,'' Schrader said.
The suspect exited the home and was taken into custody without further incident about 6:30 p.m.
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