Suspect in Thanksgiving Day Benicia Robbery Believed to have Committed Suicide During Standoff with SF Police

Update 6:05 a.m.:

KRON 4 news is reporting that the standoff with a man believed to be Duncan Phillips who was wanted by Benicia Police in connection with a Thanksgiving Day robbery has ended with the suspect taking his own life.

Benicia Patch will continue to update this story as details become available.

Update 5:35 a.m.:  

San Francisco police are negotiating with a man believed to be Duncan Philips who is wanted by Benicia police in connection with a Thanksgiving Day robbery.  The suspect is on the shoreline on  Treasure Island.

“We are still negotiating with the suspect,” said San Francisco Police Sgt. Michael Andraychak.  “”He’s on the shoreline between the main access road and bay waters.  We more or les have him surrounded.”

The San Francisco Marine Unit and U.S. Coast Guard are patrolling the waters just off Treasure Island.

If the suspect on Treasure Island is Phillips, it is unclear when he might come to Solano County.  “At this point the suspect we have here – this is my understanding- was driving a stolen vehicle.  During the pursuit he fired a couple of shots from the vehicle,” said Andraychak. 

“We’re still trying to confirm that he was firing at the officers,” said Andraychak.  “That’s the conclusion we have at this point.  He’ll definitely be facing criminal charges here.”

November 27, 2012

Police in Standoff with Armed Suspect on Treasure Island

San Francisco police are engaged in a standoff with a male suspect in a stolen vehicle in the vicinity of Treasure Island this morning following a vehicle pursuit across the San Francisco Bay Bridge late Monday night, according to police.

Officers located the suspect driving a stolen vehicle around 11 p.m. in downtown San Francisco, near the intersection of Mason and Bush streets, police said.

Police pursued the vehicle to the Treasure Island off-ramp from Interstate Highway 80 and a standoff has ensued, police said.

The suspect is believed to be 29-year-old Duncan Philips and is a suspect in a robbery that took place on Thursday in the city of Benicia, according to police.

Police believe the suspect may be driving a stolen red 2004 Ford
Taurus. Police said the suspect has fired a weapon, but initial reports indicate that the firearm was not discharged at officers.

Traffic on and off of the island was been shut down since shortly before midnight, according to the California Highway Patrol.

KRON Channel 4 News is reporting that Phillips is on the western edge of Treasure Island and is threatening suicide.  According to KRON 4 there is a police negotiating team on the scene trying to convince Phillips to surrender peacefully.

Patch will update this story as is develops.
           
Bay City News Service contributed to this story. 

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