Hourslong Police Standoff Ends With Arrest In ATM Burglaries

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A five-hour-long police standoff ended early Tuesday morning with the arrest of a man who police believed had ties to several ATM burglaries in the area.

Matthew E. Phillips, 51, was arrested on suspicion of 18 charges including commercial burglary, vandalism and resisting arrest, the Santa Cruz Police Department said in a statement. He remained in jail as of Tuesday afternoon.

Police were called to a store in the 2100 block of Mission Street around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday after a commercial business alarm went off.

Phillips barricaded himself inside and refused to leave, police said. Officers deployed a robot with a camera, as well as a Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office drone, before entering the business with the help of a K-9 dog.

Phillips is accused of causing damage totaling thousands of dollars while trying to escape, police said.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to call investigators at 831-420-5820.