Woman in Custody After Five-Hour Standoff at American Motel on Lincoln Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA - A tense five-hour standoff between police and a potentially armed woman at a motel on Lincoln Blvd ended peacefully earlier today. The incident took place on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 11:30 am, prompting a swift response from the Santa Monica Police Department.

In response to the escalating situation, authorities quickly arrived at the American Motel on Lincoln Blvd after receiving reports of a person with a gun . As a precautionary measure, residents in the 1200 block of Lincoln were promptly advised to evacuate, while guests at the motel were instructed to leave their rooms. The surrounding streets were sealed off to ensure public safety.

During the operation, police officers effectively communicated through a loudspeaker to issue commands to the suspect, who had barricaded herself inside the motel. The standoff occurred when the suspect allegedly brandished a handgun after being approached by the hotel manager regarding checkout time.

To secure the area, multiple blocks, including Lincoln Blvd between Wilshire and Santa Monica Blvd, as well as Arizona Ave between 7th and 9th Street, were cordoned off. The Santa Monica Police Department deployed their Mobile Center, an overhead drone, and called in their SWAT team to manage the situation.

Police officers made preparations to deploy tear gas into the suspect's room and utilized flash grenades as part of their strategy. While the exact deployment of tear gas remains unclear, officers wore gas masks as a precautionary measure. Stun grenades, also known as flash grenades, flashbangs, thunderflashes, or sound bombs, were employed to temporarily disorient individuals' senses. These non-lethal explosive devices emit a blinding flash of light and produce a loud "bang" to stun adversaries or create distractions, commonly used in close-quarters combat, door breaching, and riot control scenarios.

Following hours of the police using a loudspeaker to command the suspect to surrender with her hands raised, the Santa Monica Police Department successfully took the female suspect into custody without encountering any significant incidents. Subsequently, the suspect was transported by a McCormick Ambulance to undergo a thorough mental health evaluation. It remains uncertain whether the woman was in possession of a firearm at the time of her apprehension or if any charges were filed.

At 5:10 pm, the Santa Monica Police Department provided an update via their Twitter account, stating, "The standoff in the 1200 block of Lincoln Boulevard has been resolved. Thank you for your patience as this individual was taken into custody without significant incident. Please wait for police and fire vehicles to leave before trying to enter the area."

Further information regarding the case will be released as the investigation progresses.

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Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning Santa Monica-based professional photojournalist and press photographer, and the creator of the photo blog, Santa Monica Close Up. With years of experience as a staff photographer for several media outlets including the Santa Monica Daily Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica Observer, and the Santa Monica Corsair, Fabian has captured some of the most iconic moments of Santa Monica.

Fabian's photographs have been exhibited in a variety of settings, including museums, art galleries, hospitals, department stores, banks, fire stations, police stations, commercial buildings, amusement parks, offices, and homes. His photography captures the essence of Santa Monica, from its beautiful landscapes and stunning sunsets to its unique culture and diverse community.

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