Emeryville police arrest man in armed hotel standoff

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Sonesta hotel in Emeryville. PHOTO: Google Maps

EMERYVILLE, Calif. - Emeryville Police said they arrested a man early Sunday morning after an armed standoff at a hotel.

Michael Valladares Chirinos, 29, of Richmond, is accused of threatening several guests and employees with a shotgun at the Sonesta Hotel at 5555 Shellmound Street. Police used a drone to find and arrest Valladares Chirinos.

Police said the suspect paced throughout the hotel's lobby and ground floor while holding what appeared to be a modified shotgun. The suspect went in and out of the view of officers, who had surrounded the hotel and were attempting to communicate with him.

Eventually, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department deployed a drone into the lobby in an attempt to locate Valladares Chirinos, who had gone out of view of the police for approximately 30 minutes.

The drone located the suspect asleep on a couch in the lobby. Officers entered the lobby shortly after 4:00 a.m. and arrested him.

Valladares Chirinos was booked on suspicion of multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon on several victims, criminal threats, possession of a modified shotgun and possession of a loaded firearm. He had several outstanding warrants,

The police have not released a motive.

Business at the hotel returned to normal early Sunday morning.