WEST HOLLYWOOD—A man was arrested on Sunday, August 6 after refusing to leave a West Hollywood apartment complex for hours, authorities indicated.
According to reports, deputies from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station responded to the 8200 block of De Longpre Avenue on Saturday, August 5 at about 9:45 p.m. A resident told authorities he briefly left his apartment, leaving his door open and unlocked. He returned to find the door closed and locked with the suspect, later identified as Benjamin Owen Hales inside.
Residents were evacuated from the complex, according to reports. Deputies from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau arrived on the scene to convince Hales to surrender. Tear gas was deployed into the apartment, but the suspect refused to turn himself into officials.
Deputies entered the apartment at about 7:15 a.m. on Sunday and arrested Hales, who was described as a transient. He was not in possession of a weapon at the time of his arrest, authorities reported. Hales, 36, was booked at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station and charged with burglary and vandalism. He is being held in lieu of $55,000 bail, officials said. No injuries were reported.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the sheriff’s West Hollywood station at (310) 855-8850.
