Parolee Surrenders After Hours-Long Southern California Standoff

A standoff that lasted for hours Tuesday came to an end when a SWAT team began firing gas canisters into the Southern California home where a parolee wanted for a series of armed bank robberies was barricaded.

The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Jason Devore, emerged from the home with his hands behind his head just before 11 p.m. and was taken into custody.

Members of a U.S. marshal's task force tracked the parolee to a mobile home in the 12700 block of Rosecrans Avenue. They were able to locate Devore by going to the address that he reported to his probation office.

When deputies arrived to the home to apprehend him, they said Devore ducked out, went into another residence and barricaded himself.

U.S. Marshals Service spokeswoman Laura Vega said Devore claimed he had a rifle. He also told authorities he had explosive materials and a grenade, apparently in an effort to buy time.

Devore was apparently posting messages and images on Facebook while he was holed up. He posted photos of him holding firearms and said he was in a standoff with SWAT. He also said he did not want to go back to prison.

Officials initially said Devore was holding a hostage, but later said the man was a friend of the suspect. The friend was detained.

A Los Angeles County sheriff's SWAT team assisted the task force, which included several state and local agencies.

Devore served more than 9 years in prison after being convicted of bank robbery in California in 2003, Vega said. He has been on probation and supervised by an office in Orange County.

He is believed to have been responsible for at least five armed robberies that took place in Los Angeles County, Pomona and Fullerton, Vega said. Marshals identified him as the suspect after recognizing his face from law enforcement bulletins. There were at least five warrants out for Devoreโ€™s arrest.

The northbound off-ramp of the 5 Freeway at Rosecrans Avenue was shut down during the standoff. Sheriffโ€™s officials asked the public to avoid the area.

Rosa Ordaz, Jack Noyes and Andrew Blankstein contributed to this report.

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