UPDATED: Hemet officials explain hours-long standoff that ended with 2 arrested
An armored tactical rescue vehicle from the joint Hemet/Murrieta Special Operations Unit takes up a position behind the residence where the standoff was occurring. Chris Oliver photo
UPDATE: 09/06/2016 11:45 p.m.
An armored tactical rescue vehicle arrives at the standoff. Robert Carter photo
HEMET – Hemet Police officials have provided more details and information about an hours-long SWAT standoff that happened Sunday, Sept. 4. The incident began at about 4:10 p.m. in the 4200 block of Brookside Drive, according to an official release from the department.
The incident began after Hemet Police officers investigated a residential burglary that occurred earlier that day in the 2100 block of Silverdrop Lane. The neighborhood where the standoff happened on Brookside Drive is within close proximity of the Silverdrop Lane residence where the burglary occurred.
The officers’ investigation led to them identifying one of the burglary suspects as Brandon Lawton, 20, of Hemet.
“Lawton is known by most Hemet Police officers,” the press release explained. “Lawton is on Post Release Community Supervision for felony evading and was wanted for violating those probation terms and conditions in addition to the residential burglary.”
An officer stands watch over the outer perimeter where the standoff was occurring. Robert Carter photo
A second suspect was believed to be involved in the burglary, but limited information was known about him at the time of the initial investigation.
Following investigative leads, Hemet Police officers responded to the Brookside Drive residence, where officers believed Lawton was hiding.
When officers attempted to contact Lawton, he and another male fled out the back of the residence. However, the two ran back inside the home when they were confronted by officers waiting at the back side of the home.
Officers authored and obtained a search warrant for the residence and entered the home to locate and arrest Lawton. Evidence at the home indicated Lawton and the person who attempted to flee from the residence with him were hiding and barricaded in the residence’s attic.
Officers determined the man who was barricaded at the residence with Lawton was Damion Terrell Berry, 21, of Los Angeles.
During the standoff, officers learned the two men were possibly armed.
Hemet and Murrieta PD brought several command vehicles to the scene. Robert Carter photo
Lawton reportedly surrendered to law enforcement officials within a few minutes, but Berry remained barricaded in the attic and refused to come out.
The joint Hemet/Murrieta Regional Special Operations Unit responded and took over the scene and assumed the investigation.
About 5 hours later, Berry surrendered to law enforcement officials after they deployed chemical agents and a police K9 into the attic.
No one was injured during the stand-off, according to officials.
The investigation is ongoing and Hemet Police detectives are still investigating the Silverdrop burglary and reviewing evidence where the Brookside standoff happened.
At the end of the standoff, Lawton was transported to Riverside County Jail and booked on his Post Release Community Supervision Warrant. Hemet Police officials have stated investigators anticipate filing additional charges on Lawton.
The City of Murrieta Emergency Incidents Command Center moves into position. Robert Carter photo
Berry, who was not on probation or parole, was arrested on two felony warrants issued by the Los Angeles County Superior Court for robbery and attempted robbery. Hemet Police detectives anticipate filing additional charges on Berry.
A jail record search revealed Lawton was being held at the Southwest Detention Center. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be seen at an unspecified court Thursday Sept 8.
A jail record search on Berry revealed his bail was set at $75,000 but he was released to another agency Monday, Sept 6 and is no longer in custody in Riverside County.
UPDATE: 09/05/2016 12:12 a.m.
An armored tactical rescue vehicle moves into position.
HEMET – An eight-hour SWAT standoff has ended in West Hemet and two subjects have been detained according to a social media press release from the department.
The standoff was happening at a residence in the area of Creekside and Brookside Drives in Hemet and reportedly began around 4 p.m.
Witnesses near the scene described seeing several children brought out of the residence during the standoff.
The standoff ended peacefully after tear gas was deployed into the residence.
At 12:32 a.m., the department updated citizens explaining, “Our SWAT Team was deployed to the 4200 block of Brookside on subjects who were wanted on felony warrants and a residential burglary that had barricaded themselves inside the home,”
The release from the department continued, “All is OK both suspects are now in custody after we deployed chemical agents into the home.”
This is a developing story. More information will be updated as it becomes available.
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ORIGINAL STORY
A Bearcat armored tactical rescue vehicle arrives at the scene. Robert Carter photo
HEMET – Very few details are known yet about a SWAT standoff that is occurring at a residence in the area of Creekside and Brookside Drives in Hemet. The standoff reportedly began around 4 p.m. The residence is south of Mustang Way and west of South Cawston Avenue.
The joint Hemet/Murrieta Special Operations Unit is on scene and has set up a command center at an undisclosed nearby location.
The officers have also brought at least two armored tactical rescue vehicles and other specialized vehicles and equipment to the scene.
Numerous homes surrounding the scene have been evacuated and the entire neighborhood has been cordoned off, with families kept from being able to return to their homes.
Hemet Fire Department and American Medical Response ambulances are at the location in case they are needed.
This is a developing story. More information will be updated as it becomes available.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 11 (soon to be 12) grandchildren.
Thank you Law Enforcement!