UPDATE (5:55 p.m.) - Santa Barbara police say a man who was arrested Thursday after breaking into a home and refusing to leave had just been released from jail Wednesday for a similar incident earlier this week.
Police say German Hernandez Jr., 27, a transient, broke into the occupied home near the intersection of Verano Dr. and San Martin Way just before 9:30 a.m.
The two people who were home at the time got out safely after calling authorities, but police say Hernandez refused to leave after dozens of attempts by crisis negotiators to communicate with him.
Police say the home had large windows and they were able to see most of Hernandez's movements inside the home. At one point, they say he armed himself with a wine bottle. Once he put it down, SWAT members reportedly entered the home at took him into custody at about 1:30 p.m.
Police say Hernandez resisted and spat at officers during the arrest. While he was not hurt, Hernandez was reportedly taken to the hospital for a medical clearance and evaluation before being taken to jail.
Hernandez was booked on charges of committing a felony while out on bail, burglary, looting during a state of emergency, resisting arrest, and prowling.
Police say the family's dog was found safe in the house and was reunited with its owners after the arrest.
Roads that had been closed in the area were reopened shortly thereafter.
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UPDATE (2 p.m.) - Santa Barbara police say the suspect has been taken into custody without incident.
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UPDATE (1:05 p.m.) - Santa Barbara police say a burglary suspect is believed to be inside a home that's currently surrounded by law enforcement.
A resident of the home in the area of Verano Dr. and San Martin Way reported a burglary-in-progress Thursday morning.
Police say she and her daughter locked themselves in an upstairs bedroom while the burglar was still inside the home.
Responding officers were able to get them out of the house safely using a fire department ladder.
Police say the burglary suspect is refusing verbal commands to exit the home, so SWAT, a Crisis Negotiation Team, and County Mental Health have been called to the scene.
Police are asking people to avoid the area.
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(12:07 p.m.) - Santa Barbara police blocked off access to a neighborhood Thursday morning after a report of a barricaded subject in a home.
It all started at around 9:30 a.m. at a home near Verano Dr. and San Martin Way.
Verano Dr. was closed from Primavera Rd. to La Colina Rd., and Santa Martin Way was closed from Rosario Dr. to Verano. No vehicles or pedestrians were being allowed in the area.
Police said they do not believe there is a threat to the general public or schools in the area at this time.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
