A man was taken into custody in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart in Santa Ana early Friday morning, hours after a security guard spotted him in a vehicle with a large knife, authorities said.
The security guard was driving through the parking lot Thursday night when he saw the man, who was sitting alone in the car, said Sgt. Matt Hermans of the Santa Ana Police Department. The employee called police about 9:15 after noticing the knife.
Officers responded to the location at 3600 West McFadden Avenue (map) and a standoff ensued with the unidentified man, who appeared “dazed,” Hermans said.
Police allowed the remaining customers in the 24-hour store to finish their shopping, according to Hermans. The Wal-Mart was then temporarily closed.
The barricade situation lasted until about 3 a.m., when the man exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident, the Police Department said.
Orange County Fire Department paramedics then transported him to a hospital for mental evaluation.
