Standoff in Lindsay ends in two arrests
Began with carjacking in Porterville Sunday night
A nine-plus hour standoff in Lindsay ended Monday with the use of chemical agents and two arrests, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department reported.
A nine-plus hour standoff in Lindsay ended Monday with the use of chemical agents and two arrests, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department reported.
The ordeal began at 10:45 p.m. on Sunday with deputies being called to a carjacking in the 1500 block of East Springville Avenue in Porterville and ended just before 1 p.m. Monday with a standoff at a home in Lindsay, TCSO stated.
Responding to the initial call in Porterville, deputies contacted two victims who stated someone took their car at gunpoint. The suspects reportedly fled the area in two separate vehicles.
During the investigation, deputies located the suspect’s vehicle at approximately 3 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of West Tulare Road in Lindsay where they contacted residents who confirmed at least one identified suspect was at the location and hiding in the attic. The SWAT Team and officers from the Lindsay Police Department responded to the address. Detectives obtained a warrant for the property and attempted to get everyone to exit the house. Everyone was eventually removed from the home except for the primary suspect, an adult resident of Porterville who was identified as Rudy Cortez.
Multiple efforts to have Cortez exit or surrender were made with no success. SWAT gained access to the attic, and used the armored Bearcat to introduce chemical agents.
Cortez was eventually removed from the attic and arrested around 12:55 p.m. A second suspect was later identified as Angel Thomas Hernandez Ramirez, who is also a resident of Porterville.
Both men were arrested and booked at the Porterville Substation without incident. Cortez was also booked for several outstanding warrants with a total bail of $420,000.
Anyone with more information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 7254194.