Residents in the Pleasanton Meadows neighborhood were evacuated out of their homes early Thursday morning as a suspect in an alleged domestic dispute case refused to leave his home and threatened police. Pleasanton police and a SWAT team were called in for negotiations that lasted nine hours.

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, a woman called 911 and said she was the victim of domestic assault. The woman left the house to call police, Lt. Darrin Davis said, and the suspect communicated to police through a closed front door.

"He made several threats against the police officer," he said, adding that the threats involved use of a firearm. "We had legal authority to enter, but we thought it was best not to create a potential incident of violence."

Davis said officers decided to call in the SWAT team to aid in negotiations.

"The situation met the needs of a SWAT team," he said. "They're critical incident negotiators. They're professionally trained and a lot of times they're able to solve it peacefully."

After further evaluating the scene, officers evacuated neighboring houses on Stacey Way around 3 a.m., according to a neighbor's report on the Pleasanton Weekly's online TownSquare forum. Davis said the neighbors were kept from their homes for six hours.

Around 7 a.m. the SWAT team was able to get the man out of the house. According to the report, the 38-year-old suspect was arrested for misdemeanor assault/domestic violence and felony threats against peace officers.

Davis said as of Friday, the case has been sent to the District Attorney. The review will be delayed, he added, since the suspect got out on bail. Names are being withheld to comply with the confidentiality request of the woman.

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.