Man holds his family captive in Irvine home during police standoff

A man armed with a machete held his family captive in their Irvine home during a police standoff on Wednesday afternoon.

The Irvine Police Department said the suspect would not allow his family to leave their condo near the intersection of Terrapin and Cadence. Officers said he was on the first floor, and four relatives, including juveniles, were on the third floor of the home. 

After roughly one hour, officers used a ladder to rescue the family members. The suspect remained inside. 

Irvine PD sent its SWAT team, and police have cordoned off part of the neighborhood. Police added that negotiators were trying to contact the man. 

They were using a loudspeaker to communicate with him but also deployed "loud distraction devices near the home," according to Irvine PD. 

"Officers are making every effort possible to resolve this matter peacefully and safely," it wrote.

Irvine PD spent several hours trying to get the suspect to surrender. At around 8 p.m., the suspect surrendered to police was taken into custody without further incident.