On September 5, 2019, at approximately 8:00 a.m., deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Central Station, received a 911 call from a concerned citizen who reported witnessing the suspect, George Chammas, yelling at an elderly woman in the front yard of the residence and swinging a baseball bat. After the 911 call was placed, Chammas forced the victim back into the residence, refused to allow the victim to leave and damaged the victim's telephone. As responding deputies approached the residence, he exhibited a firearm at an open window of the residence and, refused to open the door to allow for a welfare check of the victim. Chammas barricaded himself and the victim inside the residence and reinforced multiple entry points. Deputies made public announcements (PA) and instructed him to exit the residence and surrender. The suspect did not respond to any attempts made by law enforcement to communicate. A containment perimeter was established and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) responded and assisted with the incident.
After an approximate four hour standoff, Chammas voluntarily exited the residence and was taken into custody. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center for kidnapping, false imprisonment and elder abuse, he is being held on $250,000.
The victim was not injured during the incident.