APD: Naked man broke into south Austin home, prompting SWAT callout

AUSTIN (KXAN) –A naked man was arrested after he was accused of breaking into a south Austin home, prompting a SWAT callout, the Austin Police Department said during a media briefing on Thursday.

Around 11:53 a.m., officers responded to the 4400 block of Merle Drive. That’s near the intersection of Menchaca Road and Ben White service road eastbound.

During a media briefing Thursday, APD Cpl. Jose Mendez said 911 dispatch received a call from someone saying a naked man forced his way into her home. Then, police said an assault happened in the home. Mendez did not say exactly what kind of assault took place, only that there was an exchange. After the assault, the residents in the home were able to get out and call 911.

APD initially responded for a burglary hot shot call. However, once police learned there were several loaded weapons inside the home, that is when on-scene officers treated the incident as a barricaded subject and prompted a SWAT callout.

Once SWAT was on the scene, they used several attempts to establish communication with him. Furthermore, SWAT used devices, which are like flash bangs, to get the man to come out of the home. The man eventually came out of the home unharmed, and Mendez said the incident ended peacefully. The man was taken into custody around 2:30 p.m.

APD is still investigating whether the man, who was not identified Thursday, will face other charges. For now, he will be booked into the Travis County Jail on a burglary of habitation charge.

It was not immediately clear if the suspect was intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, which is what APD is currently investigating.

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