SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Tribune News Service) — An active-duty member of the military was taken into custody Wednesday after he threatened to hurt himself, then holed up with his children during a roughly nine-hour standoff in a home east of Dehesa, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Just after 1:30 a.m., the man’s wife called 9-11 to report that her husband had a gun and was threatening to harm himself in front of their children, Lt. Anthony O’Boyle said in a news release.

Deputies responded to the home, but the man refused to release the children, O’Boyle said. The lieutenant did not give the age of the man or his children, nor did he say what branch of military the man belongs to.

Aside from the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team and SWAT team, Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents also responded, as did a military chaplain who was familiar with the man.

Just before 11 a.m., the man agreed to release the children and surrender. The children were unharmed and reunited with their mother, officials said.

O’Boyle said the man was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation and could face charges.

A search of the home turned up 50 firearms.

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