Irvine police collar local robbery suspect

COSTA MESA -- After a five-hour standoff with police Thursday, Emigdio

Manzo, 31, of Irvine, was taken into custody and now faces charges in

connection with an armed robbery in Costa Mesa.

Irvine police arrested Manzo on a parole violation warrant but handed

him over to Costa Mesa police, who wanted him in connection with the

armed robbery, said Sgt. Tom Little of the Irvine Police Department.

That crime involved a home invasion-style robbery last Wednesday,

involving a woman and her son in East Side Costa Mesa, Little said.

But Costa Mesa Police officers Friday could not provide information

about the robbery in which Manzo was allegedly involved.

At about 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Irvine Police went to Manzo’s home where

he was with his girlfriend. When police asked the two to come outside,

Little said, she emerged but told police he was refusing to come out.

Police tried to talk to Manzo through the door, but did not break it

down and take him by force because he was listed on the warrant as armed

and dangerous, Little said.

“They felt it wasn’t prudent to force their way in, although they

could have with the warrant,” Little said. “We then evacuated all

adjacent apartments.”

Manzo was listed as armed and dangerous because he has several prior

convictions involving firearms, Little said.

After hours of negotiations through the door and via telephone, police

finally entered the apartment at about 7 p.m.

“We actually had to go in and make contact, but once he was confronted

inside, he did not resist,” Little said.

Manzo is now being held without bail in Costa Mesa.

SI-- Danette Goulet