Elk Grove police turn to tear gas to finally put an end to four-hour standoff

An Elk Grove man who police said held officers at bay during a four-hour standoff at his home surrendered late Saturday night.

In custody is 23-year-old Jorge Calderon-Melara, wanted on suspicion of threatening a former employer.

Calderon-Melara was booked into Sacramento County Main Jail early Sunday, according to jail records. He awaits a court appearance Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court on allegations of issuing criminal threats, vandalism and resisting arrest. Bail was set at $50,050.

Elk Grove police about 5 p.m. surrounded Calderon-Melara’s home on Trumpet Court as negotiators were in what officials later said was “on-and-off communication” with the man.

Police in a social media post said at one point Calderon-Melara brought down a police remote-operated drone watching over the scene.

Officers ultimately ended the standoff hours later by firing tear gas into the home, Elk Grove police said.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1040

Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.