A 53-year-old man died following an hours-long standoff involving SWAT on Wednesday.
Dallas police said DPD’s auto theft and gang unit responded to a home at 221 Starr Street, near 8th Street in North Oak Cliff, at about 12:18 p.m. on August 17, in connection with an investigation into stolen vehicles.
Authorities said preliminary investigation had revealed that two stolen vehicles were allegedly being taken apart and sold for scraps in the backyard.
Dallas police officers knocked on the suspect’s door when they arrived at the home. Rather than admit them entry, the suspect allegedly locked the door and remained inside. After obtaining a search warrant for the suspect’s house, the Dallas police SWAT team responded to the scene.
Officers evacuated the home and were told the suspect had locked himself in the attic. SWAT deployed gas into the house after several hours of failed attempts to get the suspect to come out and surrender.
SWAT later cut a hole in the roof of the house and found the suspect, identified as Paublo Ramos, inside but not responsive.
Ramos was transported to a local hospital, where he later died, according to the Dallas police department. Police did not say what caused Ramos’ death.
Dallas PD Special Investigations Unit responded and investigated the circumstances of Ramos’ death. In addition, the Office of Community Police Oversight was notified and will open its own investigation into the case.