Sonora, CA — A nearly nine-hour standoff on East Church Street ended peacefully on Wednesday afternoon after two men barricaded themselves inside a residence to resist a court-ordered eviction.
The incident began around 9:48 a.m. when deputies from the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office Civil – Coroner Division arrived to execute a pre-planned eviction. Officials note that the occupants had previously been issued a formal writ of possession by the Tuolumne Superior Court, ordering them to vacate the property by June 3.
According to the sheriff’s office, the two occupants refused to comply with lawful orders to exit the home and instead barricaded the front door.
Due to the escalation, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office activated its Critical Response Unit (CRU), bringing in both the SWAT Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team to secure the area and ensure public safety.
Following several hours of tense negotiations, authorities successfully de-escalated the situation. Both individuals exited the residence peacefully and were taken into custody without further incident.
The two men, identified as 68-year-old John Flynn and 57-year-old Todd (Ty) Robben, were booked into the Dambacher Detention Center. They face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges:
Flynn was booked on the following charges:
· PC 71(A) – Threatening a Public Officer – A Felony
· PC 602.5(A) – Unauthorized Entry of a Dwelling – A Misdemeanor
· PC 148(A)(A) – Obstructing a Public Officer – A Misdemeanor
· 166.4 – Disobeying a Court Order – A Felony
Robben was booked on the following charges:
· PC 29800 (A)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm – A Felony
· PC 71(A) – Threatening a Public Officer – A Felony
· PC 602.5(A) – Unauthorized Entry of a Dwelling – A Misdemeanor
· PC 148(A)(A) – Obstructing a Public Officer – A Misdemeanor
· 166.4 – Disobeying a Court Order – A Felony
