Man Threatening to Kill Mother Surrenders After 5-Hour Standoff

A 40-year-old man who authorities said has a substance abuse problem allegedly threatened to kill his 80-year-old mother and himself during a five-hour standoff with sheriff’s officials Saturday at Leisure World in Laguna Hills.

Samuel Rosen, 43, who apparently lives with his mother at her home on Via Carrizo, surrendered and was taken into custody without incident at 4:20 p.m. after talking with sheriff’s negotiators for nearly four hours, said Lt. Jay Mendez. He is being held under observation until Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

Rosen’s mother, whose name was not released by sheriff’s officials, was able to escape from the house a short time after the incident began with the help of the family’s psychologist, who spoke to Rosen by phone, Mendez said. Rosen has a history of violent behavior toward family members, he added.

Authorities recovered a semiautomatic gun.