Irvine Man Arrested After Holding Family Hostage in Machete Standoff

The 4-hour standoff ended with the safe evacuation of the man's three children and their mother.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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An Irvine man was arrested Wednesday night after holding his family hostage in their condo using a machete and engaging in a four-hour standoff with police. The man's three children and their mother were trapped inside a third-story bedroom and safely evacuated through a window. No injuries were reported.

Why it matters

Hostage situations involving family members can be extremely dangerous and traumatic, highlighting the need for effective crisis intervention and de-escalation tactics by law enforcement. This incident also raises questions about mental health factors that may have contributed to the suspect's actions.

The details

Police responded to a 911 call from another family member reporting that the man had taken his family hostage using a machete. Three SWAT teams assisted officers in safely evacuating the hostages through a window. After failed attempts to get the suspect to surrender, police used a chemical irritant gas to force him out of the home, and he was arrested without further incident.

  • Police response began after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The hostages were safely evacuated by 4:30 p.m.
  • The standoff ended around 8:30 p.m. when the suspect surrendered.

The players

Irvine Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to and resolved the hostage situation.

Kyle Oldoerp

Irvine Police Department spokesman who provided details about the incident.

Orange County Fire Authority

Assisted police in evacuating the hostages through a window.

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What they’re saying

“We did everything we could to peacefully bring this situation to an ending. It obviously took a few hours before he finally surrendered to our officers. But ultimately that was our goal, to resolve this in a peaceful and safe way.”

— Kyle Oldoerp, Irvine Police Department Spokesman (nypost.com)

What’s next

Police are still investigating the suspect's motive, but mental health issues may have played a role in the incident.

The takeaway

This hostage situation highlights the importance of effective crisis intervention and de-escalation tactics by law enforcement to safely resolve dangerous confrontations, especially when family members are involved.