A report of a burglary in progress at a home located on a county island in Turlock, led to a long standoff with a suspect who held a knife to his throat and repeatedly said law enforcement would have to kill him.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody, but not before popping a fentanyl pill into his mouth, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.

The call of a burglary in progress came in around 1 p.m. Tuesday at a home in the area of G and 1st streets. As deputies arrived at the scene they saw the suspect, later identified as Ramon Flores, run away from the home and hide in a homeless encampment a short distance away.

A perimeter was set up around the neighborhood and deputies began the work of securing Flores’ surrender.

At one point Flores ran out of the homeless encampment and into the backyard of another residence, which was still within the perimeter.

Deputies searched the backyard and found Flores hiding under a tree. He again refused to come out and this time deputies could see he was holding a knife to his throat. He repeatedly said the deputies would have to kill him. He said he had experienced multiple setbacks in life and no longer wanted to live, according to the sheriff’s department.

The Stanislaus Sheriff's Department Hostage Negotiations Team arrived at the scene and began trying to talk Flores into surrendering.

“Throughout the negotiations, he was seen smoking an unknown substance,” said sheriff spokesperson Sgt. Veronica Esquivez.

More than two hours after the standoff began, Flores surrendered, but not before taking something out of his pocket and putting it in his mouth. Once taken into custody, Flores made mention of ingesting fentanyl.

Flores was transported to an area hospital for further medical care. He was cleared for jail and booked at the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for several violations, including outstanding warrants and possession of a controlled substance.