A SWAT team Wednesday fired diversionary flash-bang grenades into a Santa Ana home as part of an attempt to end an hours-long barricade situation involving a man who police said tried to rob and carjack a Pizza Hut delivery driver.
Police responded about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to reports a delivery driver was the victim of an attempted robbery and carjacking and had been pistol-whipped, and spotted the suspect running from the scene, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department. It was unclear where the attempted robbery occurred.
Officers began a pursuit on foot of the suspect but lost sight of him, Bertagna said.
A short time later, a homeowner in the 3200 block of South Thornton Street, near Bear Street, told police an armed man had gotten into his home and his family was still inside, Bertagna said.
Authorities responded to the home and got the rest of the man’s family out of the house safely, but the suspect refused to exit, Bertagna said.
The SWAT team fired flash-bang grenades into the home about 4 a.m., but the suspect remained inside, ABC7 reported.
Details of any injuries suffered by the delivery driver were not immediately disclosed.