On Monday, April 18, 2016 at approximately 1:47 p.m., the Sacramento Police Department responded to reports of a vehicle blocking the roadway at 11^th Street and L Street in the downtown area.

Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle and determined it was occupied by a single adult male.  They immediately tried to communicate with the driver but he was not responsive to their requests. In an effort to conceal himself, the subject covered the vehicle’s windows with cardboard and refused to comply with their orders. 

As part of the Sacramento Police Department’s protocol, the Hostage Negotiations Team (HNT) and the SWAT team responded to the scene to assist with the incident.

After lengthy communication efforts by the negotiations team, officers convinced the man to voluntarily exit his vehicle where he was safely taken into police custody without incident.   

As a precaution, the department’s Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team responded to the scene to assess the safety of the vehicle.  As a safeguard, police personnel evacuated the buildings on the north side of L Street between 10^th and 12^th Streets.   

With the assistance of a robot, EOD personnel conducted a controlled breach of the vehicle and located two items inside the car which resembled explosive devices.  Precautionary measures were taken to ensure the safety of public and officers while EOD personnel conducted their investigation.  It was later discovered that the items were inert, constructed to look like explosive devices.   

Limited information will be released at this time as it remains very active and on-going investigation.  Detectives are still working to determine a motive for the incident. 

This evening, 27-year-old Edgar Rodriguez-Napoles was booked at the Sacramento County Jail for possession of a hoax device and obstructing and resisting a police officer. 

The Sacramento Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the dispatch center at (916) 264-5471 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or submit an anonymous tip using the free “P3 Tips” smartphone app.  Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.