Update: Negotiator Wins Surrender of ‘Larry’ in 5-Hour SWAT Standoff

Updated at 11:35 p.m. Friday

A police negotiator coaxed a man she called Larry out of a Blue Lake Drive home a little before 10:30 p.m. Friday, ending a standoff a block north of La Mesa and west of El Cajon.

Video taken by Patch heard her repeatedly tell Larry to come out the front door, and his safety was guaranteed.

Dozens of residents watched the drama unfold from nearby intersections blocked off by San Diego and El Cajon police cars. One witness reported hearing an explosion, perhaps a flash-bang device, about 10:18 p.m.

At least one household was evacuated at the scene of a standoff with SWAT officers on Blue Lake Drive at Lake Apopka Place.

A man in his late 20s or early 30s said he and his mother were told to leave the home about 7:20 p.m. just one door west of the suspect home on Blue Lake Drive a block north of La Mesa and Dallas Street.

According to a bystander monitoring police scanners, the house was described as "not friendly," suggesting suspects in an El Cajon bank robbery were still in the home.

The man who was evacuated, declining to give his name, said he has lived in the neighborhood for two years but didn't know the next-door neighbors.

Police expanded the blocked off area on Blue Lake Drive one block west to Lake Arrowhead Drive.

Update: Friday, 7:11 p.m.

Police have arrested a white, middle-aged man, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, who is suspected of robbing an El Cajon bank. He was inside a house on Blue Lake Drive, and was surrouded by dozens of police. Just a few minutes ago, he came out with his hands up and surrendered peacefully. No shots were fired.

La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch was able to confirm that the San Diego County Sheriff's Department deployed its SWAT team to aid in the standoff.

Original story:

The La Mesa Police Department aided El Cajon and San Diego police in searching for a bank robbery suspect late Friday afternoon.

According to El Cajon police, a call came in at 3:53 p.m. that a robbery had taken place at US Bank at 2800 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. No one was hurt in the robbery.

The suspect was able to get away, but additional units were soon called, and a manhunt began. The ASTREA helicopter was utilized in the search.

Police told Patch that information was then obtained from another source that led dozens of police to a location on Blue Lake Drive. Police then barricaded the road and closed off the street between Lake Athabaska Place and Lake Apopka Place, near La Mesita Park.

Police said that they suspect this source could have also been at the scene of the robbery.