A motorist who died after a standoff of more than five hours with police at a busy Beverly Hills intersection was identified Monday, and an autopsy was pending to determine his cause of death.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office identified the man as Marlow Vernon, 52, with no city of residence indicated.
About 6 p.m. Saturday, police received several calls of a van causing a traffic hazard near Wilshire Boulevard and Linden Drive, Beverly Hills police Lt. Giovanni Trejo said.
“Arriving police units located a van blocking the eastbound lanes of Wilshire Blvd at Linden Drive,” Trejo said in a statement. “Police officers attempted to communicate with the driver at which time he drove off eastbound on Wilshire Boulevard with police units following closely behind.”
The driver ran a red light at Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Road, coming to an abrupt stop within the intersection, Trejo said. The motorist momentarily exited the vehicle and quickly re-entered it after seeing police units behind him.
Trejo said the man made “clear attempts” to stay out of sight, placing aluminum foil and other items in the van’s windows.
Officers made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the man. A SWAT unit arrived on scene and also made several failed attempts to communicate with the driver. A drone was also used in the standoff.
“After a long unsuccessful period to communicate, SWAT officers entered the van and located an unresponsive lone male,” Trejo said. “The male was treated by Beverly Hills Fire Department paramedics and later declared deceased at the scene.”