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The Mountain View Police Department removed a man who broke into Community Services Agency’s headquarters and barricaded themselves inside, prompting an hourslong standoff outside the social services agency.
The incident, which is still under investigation, started Wednesday morning, April 27, when the man reportedly broke into the building at 204 Stierlin Road. CSA staff believe he entered the building before 7 a.m., according to CSA Executive Director Tom Myers.
The man then reportedly barricaded themselves inside, causing damage to CSA’s building including a broken window and damage to the lobby, Myers said. Police evacuated the building and spent hours negotiating with the suspect for hours before calling county mental health staff for assistance.
Police said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that a CSA employee familiar with the man helped communicate with the man, who they convinced to exit the building. But while attempting to detain the man, police say he resisted and tried to get back inside the building. Officers used a taser to prevent him from re-entering, police said.
The situation was resolved around 10:44 a.m., police said. The 37-year-old transient man was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution and was not injured in the altercation. Police said he will be booked into Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of vandalism and burglary.
No officers were injured during the incident.
Myers said the nonprofit and its staff are assessing the damage and still coming to grips with what happened. CSA has had security breaches in the past, but nothing like this.
“This is the first time we’ve had a standoff like this and had someone barricading themselves inside the building,” Myers said.
CSA staff safely exited the building and were relocated a block away during the negotiations, and were later sent home for the day. CSA remains closed and will reopen tomorrow, Myers said. The plan is to have a meeting in the parking lot to discuss what happened.
In a short statement, CSA wrote that the CSA staff and Mountain View Police Department worked together to “compassionately de-escalate” the incident and remove the man. CSA is not releasing any potentially identifying information about him.
During the standoff, a portion of Stierlin Road was closed. The incident lasted roughly three hours.
Myers said the damage could have been much worse, and that he’s thankful police exercised patience during crisis negotiations. Police said to be prepared for it to take all day, he said.
“The patience paid off for everyone, including the person who barricaded themselves in the building,” he said.
This story will be updated as information is available.
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Please be safe, MVPD and Crisis Negotiators!
Such a pleasant little bedroom community. Nothing ever happens here!