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Burglary suspect arrested after 20-hour standoff inside El Dorado County home

Deputies arrested a man suspected of breaking into an El Dorado County home, firing a gun when the resident arrived and refusing to come out for 20 hours before he surrendered, sheriff’s officials said.

The deputies initially became aware of the burglary shortly before 9 p.m. Friday, when they were called to the home in the area of Pine Hill Road in the town of Rescue. They responded to a report of an unknown man inside the home, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

A resident had returned to his home and found guns scattered near the front door and the unknown man watching television inside the home. Sheriff’s officials said the scattered guns were believed to belong to the resident, and the guns had been moved from their storage area.

The resident was walking away from the front door when he heard what sounded like a single gunshot, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The resident backed away from the home and called the Sheriff’s Office for help.

Deputies arrived within minutes and set up a perimeter around the home. The deputies made announcements using a loudspeaker to try to communicate with the man. The Sheriff’s Office used several other tactics over 20 hours before he surrendered about 5 p.m. Saturday.

The suspect was identified as Austin Scott Lee, 26, of Cameron Park.

Sheriff’s officials said Lee was arrested on suspicion of residential burglary, obstructing or resisting arrest and shooting at an inhabited home.