Hotel evacuated during standoff in Red Bluff; police say suspect had fake gun

Hotel guests were evacuated from a Red Bluff hotel early Saturday during a standoff between police and a domestic violence suspect brandishing what turned out to be a fake gun.

Red Bluff Police officers faced off against the man, Christian Sandoval-Perez, for over 75 minutes before dawn at the Comfort Inn on Sale Lane, the Red Bluff Police Department said in a news release.

When police made it to the second floor of the hotel they found Sandoval-Perez, 21, standing in the hallway and pointing what appeared to be a gun in their direction, the news release said.

Police negotiated with Sandoval-Perez, coaxing him to put down the weapon, officers said. Meanwhile, the hotel’s inhabitants were discretely ushered out of the building.

Only after the man put down the gun and allowed himself to be taken into custody did police determine that the weapon was fake.

The police said they had initially responded to a call just before 5 a.m. at the Motel 6 across the street, where a woman who was thought to be a victim of domestic violence yelling outside the building and demanding the return of her children. Police then crossed the street to confront Sandoval-Perez.

Sandoval-Perez, a resident of Corning, was arrested and faces multiple charges including child abuse and domestic violence, police said.