In a shocking incident in El Sereno, Los Angeles, police were forced to use tear gas to apprehend a naked man found living in the crawlspace of a family home. The man, identified as 27-year-old Issac Betancourt, had been suspected of residing there for up to six months, according to the homeowners.
Family’s Terrifying Revelation
A Los Angeles family experienced a terrifying revelation when they discovered a naked man had been living in the crawlspace of their El Sereno home, where their 93-year-old grandmother resides. The suspect, identified as Issac Betancourt, was arrested early Friday morning after a lengthy standoff with the police involving tear gas.
The family had been hearing unexplained noises under the house for weeks, initially dismissing them as animal activity. “It was usually late at night,” Ricardo Silva, the son-in-law of the elderly homeowner, explained. “We thought it might just be animals under the house.”
The situation escalated on Thursday night when the noises intensified, resembling knocking sounds that seemed to respond to movements within the house. Alarmed, Silva and his family contacted the police. Upon arrival, officers discovered Betancourt in the crawlspace, refusing to come out. “He wasn’t scared of the dogs, and the first two attempts at gas didn’t fish him out,” Silva recounted.
Tear Gas Used to Apprehend Suspect
After several hours and multiple attempts, law enforcement resorted to deploying tear gas to extract Betancourt from the narrow, 2-foot high crawlspace that extends beneath the entire home. The ordeal caused significant distress in the neighborhood, forcing the family and their elderly relative to seek alternative accommodations for the night.
Community Reaction and Future Precautions
The motives for Betancourt’s prolonged stay under the house remain unclear, although Silva speculated, “It’s a bizarre thing, but it’s not probably uncommon, you know, in this day and age, people are looking for shelter.”
Following the incident, the family plans to secure the crawlspace to prevent future intrusions. Betancourt faces charges of trespassing. The incident has left the community and the affected family shaken but relieved that the ordeal has come to an end.
