Police Dog Frightens Suspect and Siege Ends
A standoff with an armed man barricaded in his Villa Yorba Lane apartment ended Thursday when a police dog scared him into surrendering, authorities said.
The standoff began about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when Jeffrey L. Ruzicka, 43, allegedly stood on his balcony waving a shotgun, Police Lt. Dan Johnson said.
Though the man returned to his unit, several apartments were evacuated and police used hostage negotiators and tear gas trying to convince him to surrender, Johnson said.
About 3 a.m. Thursday, officers sent a K-9 unit into Ruzicka’s bedroom, where he was allegedly hiding with the shotgun and a handgun. The dog barked but did not bite, and Ruzicka surrendered, Johnson said.
Ruzicka was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a firearm and making terrorist threats. He was being held Thursday in Huntington Beach City Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
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