Local News in Brief : West Hills Resident Arrested After Siege

A West Hills man repeatedly fired a gun inside his home and then at a police helicopter circling above before being arrested after a 90-minute standoff Wednesday, Los Angeles police said.

David Thompson, 46, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at 3:15 p.m. at his home in the 7000 block of Semrad Road, police said.

Lt. Richard Blankenship said officers were called to the home after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. The first officers arriving in the area also heard gunfire, Blankenship said. Officers took positions around the house, evacuated residences and closed streets.

Meanwhile, Blankenship said, Thompson walked out of his house into the back yard and fired a handgun at a police helicopter circling above. The copter was not hit.

About 90 minutes after the shooting started, Thompson walked out the front door of the house with his dog--a full-grown Great Dane, police said. He put the animal in his car and was about to get in himself, police said, when they arrested him. He was unarmed.

Police said a gun and several bullet shells were found in the home. Police on Wednesday were attempting to learn why Thompson began shooting but said he may have been despondent over being unemployed for the last nine months. Police said he lived in the home with his wife, who was not there during the shooting.