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Austin police takes suspect who stole APD vehicle into custody
The area near Southridge Drive and Southport Drive had been under a shelter-in-place but that has now been lifted.
AUSTIN, Texas - A South Austin neighborhood was locked down Thursday for several hours Thursday when a man barricaded himself in at least two residential buildings.
Around 3 a.m. Thursday a man who family members have identified as Jonathan Hernandez, a 36-year-old plumber, allegedly stole from a community mailbox at the Retreat at Barton Creek on South Lamar.
Responding officers claim Hernandez ran from and fought them. Suspecting Hernandez was on drugs, officers took Hernandez to the hospital.
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Police hold news conference on search for suspect in South Austin
A suspect stole an APD vehicle and led officers on a brief chase before abandoning the vehicle at an apartment complex. The suspect was taken into custody after a SWAT situation.
Austin Police Officer Michael Bullock says officers planned to transport Hernandez to the Travis County Jail when his treatment was complete, but he escaped. He ran to Ben White Boulevard where he attempted to get into passing vehicles.
When officers responded, Hernandez stole a patrol car. There was a shotgun inside the unit, but Bullock says Hernandez "was never able to gain access to them at any point in time because they have locking mechanisms on them."
Police believe Hernandez was unarmed throughout the entire incident.
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APD issues shelter-in-place for residents near Southridge Drive
APD urges residents within a mile of Southridge Drive to stay inside after a man steals a patrol vehicle and barricades himself inside of a home.
Police say Hernandez left the patrol unit in the area of Southridge and Southport Drive. He then barricaded himself in at least two quadplexes in the area. The Austin Police Department's SWAT Team evacuated residents from the buildings.
Around 1 p.m. SWAT took Hernandez into custody. "As they were doing, the suspect again, was actively fighting and resisting officers." said Bullock.
Hernandez was treated for minor injuries by Austin-Travis County EMS. Bullock told reporters he would be taken the Travis County Jail, and likely face several charges for mail theft, evading police, resisting arrest.
Thomas Hernandez told FOX 7 Austin he was "relieved" his son made it out of the barricade situation. "I just told him ‘hi, and I told him not to worry about it everything’s going to be alright.’" he said.
The area near Southridge Drive and Southport Drive had been under a shelter-in-place but that has now been lifted.
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