Man in Standoff With Deputies at Simi Home

A 40-year-old man believed to be armed and suicidal chased family members out of his brother’s Cochran Street house late Wednesday and refused to talk to sheriff’s deputies after a 4 1/2-hour standoff, authorities said.

“We’re trying to figure out how we’re going to make entry into that house,” Lt. Don Austin said late Wednesday. “We’ve got SWAT and crisis negotiation [teams] on the scene.”

Deputies were preparing to break into the house shortly before 11 p.m.

Mark Brown, brother of resident Darryl Brown, reportedly fired shots after the two men had an argument about 5:50 p.m. at the house at 4991 Cochran St. Mark Brown then chased his brother and sister-in-law from the home.

Mark Brown, who deputies said had been drinking, failed to respond to deputies’ requests to talk by telephone and loudspeaker for more than 4 1/2 hours, Austin said.

“We’ve got no movement to anything we’ve done,” he said.