GARDEN GROVE : Hostage Claim Proves False; Man Arrested

A man who police said falsely claimed to be holding his roommate at gunpoint kept a SWAT team at bay for nearly four hours Sunday afternoon before surrendering.

Lt. John Woods said the incident was a complete hoax: Derek Eugene Henson was found alone in his apartment,without any weapons.

Police said Henson, 39, has a history of mental illness and was taken into custody under the state Welfare and Institutions Code--a law that allows police to arrest an individual exhibiting unusual behavior who poses a threat to himself or others.

Henson was taken to an undisclosed facility where he will remain under 72-hour psychiatric observation, police said. He was not not charged.

The incident began about 12:39 p.m. when Henson called police and said he was holding his male roommate hostage at gunpoint. Henson told a dispatcher that he was at his apartment at 14101 N. Euclid St., No. 12, police said.

More than a dozen members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team and crisis negotiators were sent to the scene, Woods said.

Police said they tried to contact Henson several times by telephone but he refused to answer. However the officers finally made contact with Henson about 3:48 p.m., and half an hour later he surrendered.