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Man arrested after 10-hour SWAT standoff in San Diego's Birdland neighborhood

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A man is in custody after a nearly 10-hour standoff in San Diego's Birdland neighborhood that began when he allegedly pointed a gun at a woman on Tuesday afternoon.

San Diego Police said officers were called to the 2300 block of Cardinal Drive after reports that a man threatened a woman with a gun in an apartment. Officers said they attempted to contact the suspect, but he refused to speak or respond, SDPD added.

SDPD added that officers learned the suspect was also manufacturing unserialized firearms, or "ghost guns," in his apartment.

SWAT officers were called to the scene and a standoff continued for nearly 10 hours. Ultimately, the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Matthew Scott Lee, peacefully surrendered shortly after midnight and was taken into custody.

The standoff forced nearby residents to evacuate their homes and students from nearby Fletcher Elementary to be moved to Chesterton Elementary for safety until their parents could pick them up.

Lee has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, violating the conditions of his probation, committing a felony while out on bail, and various charges relating to the illegal manufacturing of firearms, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.