LONG BEACH (CNS) - A man with a replica firearm was taken into custody this afternoon in Long Beach after a standoff with officers that prompted the evacuation of a gas station minimart and the lockdown of two schools.
Officers responded about 12:20 p.m. to a report of a man with a gun in what turned out to be a stolen vehicle in the 600 block Long Beach Boulevard, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
A perimeter was set up around the vehicle, described by the Long Beach Post as a blue Chevrolet El Camino that was parked outside a gas station market.
The business was evacuated and two nearby schools were locked down, police said.
A police dog and Mental Evaluation Team officers responded to the location and a short time later the suspect emerged from the vehicle and “moderate force was used to take him into custody, according to LBPD Public Information Officer Shaunna Dandoy.
According to The Post, officers appeared to fire a less-lethal weapon at the man, bringing the standoff, evacuation and school lockdowns to an end around 1:30 p.m.
“A replica firearm was seized by officers while taking the suspect into custody,” according to Dandoy.
The suspect, who police said was taken to a hospital because he appeared to be under the influence of some substance, was not immediately identified.
“During the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle was an unreported stolen vehicle from the city of Compton,” Dandoy said.
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