Armed Burglary Suspect Caught Napping

A heavily armed man who had held off police for 19 hours and withstood more than 30 rounds of tear gas was captured Sunday after he apparently fell asleep inside the apartment he had invaded, police said.

A special weapons team had pelted the apartment with tear gas throughout the day to force out the burglary suspect.

At least five times, the suspect shot at police--usually after being hit with a new barrage of tear gas. No officers were reported wounded during the siege. The apartment the man had barricaded himself in held a cache of weapons--including several pistols, shotguns, a 9-millimeter rifle and a suitcase filled with ammunition, all owned by two middle-aged men who live there, police and neighbors said.

The suspect, identified as Brian Main, apparently used at least one of the guns to shoot at police.

About 5 p.m. Sunday, 19 hours after Main had holed up in the apartment after an apparently bungled burglary attempt, police were able to walk in and arrest him without incident, authorities said. He appeared groggy but unhurt.

Several hundred onlookers, including some evacuated from their homes during the standoff or chased away by tear gas, cheered and hooted as Main was carried from the 286-unit building on a stretcher. He was taken to a hospital for examination. He was to be booked on charges of aggravated assault against a police officer, discharging a firearm and violation of parole.

Authorities and witnesses reported that a man broke into the apartment about 10 p.m. Saturday. A tenant in the apartment scuffled with the burglar, then fled. The man used mattresses and furniture to fashion a barricade, authorities said.