Dispatcher helps get armed man to surrender during armed standoff in Auberry

A 68-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning after a SWAT standoff in the foothills community of Auberry in eastern Fresno County.

The SWAT team from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office team was deployed to the scene after deputies initially responded to a domestic violence call around 4 a.m.

The suspect, identified by the sheriff’s office as David Mascherini, allegedly threatened to shoot and kill any law enforcement agents who approached his property near Auberry Road and Blue Heron Lane.

Mascherini’s wife was eventually able to escape the house and she told deputies he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and had access to several rifles and handguns.

All the while, a sheriff’s office dispatcher remained on the phone with Mascherini and she was able to give updates to deputies where he was in the house and what he was doing.

The SWAT team worked with the dispatcher to work to communicate with the suspect, who preferred to speak only with her.

Around 9:15 a.m. Mascherini surrendered and was taken into custody. No one was injured in the incident, according to the sheriff’s office.

Mascherini was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

He faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and making death threats.

This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 8:30 AM.