Incident with barricaded man at Rancho Cordova hotel ends peacefully, police say
An apparent standoff incident in Rancho Cordova ended peacefully Wednesday, authorities said.
Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies responded with a “heavy” presence to La Quinta Inn and Suites on Folsom Boulevard around 9:30 a.m., the Rancho Cordova Police Department said on social media. Police officials said the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District was at the hotel for an activated smoke alarm and asked for help for a man who had barricaded himself in one of the rooms.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District wrote that it was assisting the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office after a sprinkler system activated in a hotel. The Rancho Cordova Police Department is staffed by deputies by contract with the Sheriff’s Office.
The officers arrived and found water pouring out from the fourth floor room’s balcony and front door, police officials announced Wednesday evening. The water was seeping into the hallways and rooms on the bottom three floors, so the officers then evacuated the hotel.
The Police Department said the officers then learned that the holed up man had damaged the hotel room’s interior and barricaded himself inside. After several attempts to speak to him, a Critical Incident Negotiation Team was called in to help.
About 90 minutes later, the man began talking with the negotiation team and “peacefully exited the room,” police said. He was arrested and booked at Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of vandalism and violating probation, both felonies. Sgt. Rodney Grassmann, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, identified the man as Sam Patterson, 35. His city of residence was not given.
“Fortunately, this situation came to a peaceful resolution and everyone is safe, despite the extensive damage that occurred at La Quinta,” police wrote on the department’s Facebook page.
Authorities at the time asked people to avoid Folsom and Sunrise boulevards, just off Highway 50. The area includes four hotels and a handful of smaller businesses. There are no residences near the intersection.
This story was originally published November 4, 2020 at 10:55 AM.
