Police take armed man into custody after standoff in Citrus Heights gated community

Police officers and mental health counselors negotiated for eight hours Wednesday with an armed man in the area of Fox Meadow Lane and Heritage Meadow Lane in Citrus Heights before taking him into custody.

Citrus Heights Police Department Lt. Chad Morris said officers responded to the 8200 block of Heritage Meadow Lane just before 8 a.m. on a report of a person suffering a mental health crisis.

Upon arrival, officers found the man in his home with a firearm. The man fired several rounds that did not strike anyone, Morris said.

The standoff occurred inside a home within the Oak Crest Village gated community. Morris said the Police Department blocked surrounding streets, and that some neighbors volunteered to leave the area while others chose to shelter in place.

Officers and mental health professionals worked through the day to maintained contact with the man and “de-escalate the situation and bring about a peaceful resolution,” Morris said.

Just before 4 p.m., Citrus Heights officers entered the home and took the man, identified only as a 48-year-old, into custody. Police said in a news release he was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a firearm and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner.

“Our goal in these difficult situations is to arrive at a peaceful resolution and connect the involved parties with the proper mental health professionals to get them the help they desperately need,” police said in the statement.

This story was originally published June 23, 2021 at 11:33 AM.