Suspect Arrested After 7-Hour Standoff In Ontario
ONTARIO (CBSLA.com) — A seven-hour standoff with police ended early Monday morning in San Bernardino County.
Ontario police received a 911 call shortly after 8:35 p.m. Tuesday in which an argument could be heard in the background before it was disconnected, officials said.
Dispatch called the number back and spoke to a woman who said her husband had been drinking and was causing a disturbance.
When officers arrived around 8:50 p.m. to the 900 block of N. Vesta in Ontario, they were reportedly approached by a male suspect identified as Faafetai Tai Niusila.
"Niusila came out to the front porch and pointed a semiautomatic rifle at the officers," Sgt. Jeff Higbee said.
Two officers fired shots toward the suspect, who retreated into the house. Niusila then fled to a neighbor's home, which was quickly surrounded by officers.
A SWAT team was called to assist in the incident.
Several nearby residences were evacuated as police blocked off streets.
While evacuating residents from the area, officers located a semi-automatic rifle lying on the ground in one of the neighboring yards, according to Sgt. Higbee.
Niusila, 44, was located by SWAT officers around 3:50 a.m. Monday and was taken into custody without incident.
He was booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga for charges of attempted murder of a peace officer and assault with a deadly weapon.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Ontario Police detectives at (909)395-2001. Information can also be reported anonymously by calling WE-TIP at (800) 78-CRIME or online.