East Austin witnessed an intense yet nonviolent conclusion to a SWAT standoff on Wednesday, as a wanted man finally gave himself up to law enforcement. The situation began around 3:30 p.m. at the Flats at Wellington Apartments, said the Austin Police Department. Initially, Mathew Arredondo, the 35-year-old subject at the heart of the confrontation, balked at surrendering to officers who were there to serve a federal warrant.
The warrant, according to CBS Austin, originated from the U.S. Marshals Office. Upon Arredondo’s refusal, the APD’s Gang Unit set a containment perimeter and, after unsuccessful negotiations, the SWAT team stepped in. The encounter, which could have escalated into something grim, veered off that path and instead wrapped up with no injuries to report.
KVUE reported that the police presence intensified around the 5800 block of Wellington Drive starting at approximately 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, when Arredondo would not comply with officers attempting to serve him the warrant. The standoff spanned about an hour and a half before it came to a close at just after 7 p.m., as the man decided to surrender peacefully…