A 39-year-old Santa Rosa man committed suicide following a domestic dispute and hourslong standoff with a SWAT team early Saturday on a quiet residential street in Larkfield, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office reported.
Glenn Raymond Swindell was found dead in his home Saturday morning on Manka Circle near Faught Road. His mother, Deborah Belka of Bellingham, Wash., confirmed his death and said he had called her Friday night and told her he was hiding in his attic from police.
Neighbors heard loud blasts and possible gunfire, including between 2and 3 a.m. Saturday morning, during the standoff. The noises were intense enough to set off nearby car alarms.
"It sounded like a bomb going off at my house, and I'm 10 houses away," neighbor Kaptain Bine said.
The SWAT team brought an armored truck and may have used it to knock down the garage door, neighbors said. The door remained dented and unattached to the house Saturday afternoon.
A Sheriff's office news release that did not identify Swindell by name said deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at the home about 9 p.m. Friday. The account said "a physical altercation had occurred between the couple inside their vehicle, which was parked outside their residence."
Swindell had restricted the woman's "ability to freely move from the vehicle" and had taken their two children with him into the residence, the release stated.
Deputies persuaded Swindell to release the children to their mother, the release said.
An hour or so later Swindell stopped responding to deputies, according to the press release. The SWAT team arrived, and sheriff's officials cordoned off Manka Circle in front of the house. Deputies later closed portions of Faught Road as well.
"There were more than 30 cops out there," neighbor Elias Astuto said. The scene looked like something from a movie, with officers wearing helmets and night vision goggles, he said.
Neighbors said during the night they heard a hostage negotiator repeatedly use an amplified sound system to urge the man to surrender.
Neighbor Gary Peterian said he heard the negotiator announce, "We have the house surrounded. Please come out with your hands up. We are not going to leave."
The SWAT team members still had their weapons ready and the armored truck parked in front of the house at about 7 a.m., Bine said.
Belka said her son, who has worked 22 years in the grocery business, called her about 10 p.m. Friday from his attic. She said she tried to persuade him to surrender to law enforcement, but he told her he was afraid they would kill him.
While not disputing how her son died, Belka said that during the phone call he wasn't suicidal, and she wants deputies to explain their actions.
"Not one time in an hour and 10 minutes did he mention suicide," Belka said.
Sheriff's officials did not return calls seeking additional comment Saturday.
You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.com.
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