Woman taken into custody after 8-hour standoff in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A woman was taken in custody Tuesday after an eight-hour standoff in Santa Barbara.

The SWAT team was first called to Encore Drive near Modoc Road around 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Police say the standoff stemmed from an incident around 9 p.m. Monday. Police say a woman showed two people at La Cumbre Plaza that she had a weapon.

Officers say she was able to hide from police, but then led them on a chase around 3 a.m. Police ended up surrounding her at the home on Encore Drive.

Investigators say the woman barricaded herself inside a four-door white sedan and was not cooperating with police.

Officers were initially communicating with her through written messages on paper.

Some people were escorted out of their homes during the response, but police say there was no danger to the public.

She was taken into custody shortly after 11 a.m. after she got out of the car and surrendered to police.

"SBPD did everything within their power to preserve the sanctity of life after an eight-hour standoff. They were able to communicate with her and speak to her reasoning and bring this to conclusion without injury to officers or the woman," said Anthony Wagner, spokesman for the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The woman was identified as Heather Ann Erickson, 48, of Santa Barbara.

Police said they located several weapons inside the Erickson's car, but they didn't specify what those weapons were.

Erickson is facing possible charges including assault, battery, and brandishing a weapon.

She will go through a mental health screening before she is booked into Santa Barbara County Jail where she will be held on a $50,000 bail.