An armed burglary suspect found his way into a Scottsdale bar Friday afternoon, according to police.
Sgt. Ben Hoster, spokesman for Scottsdale Police Department, said that the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Kasey Kauakahi, burglarized a vehicle parked outside a business at 12:55 p.m. and entered the Playa Bar.
Employees watched the suspect on surveillance video and noted he had a handgun, police said.
Police set up a perimeter around the business and evacuated people from the bar and neighboring businesses. Granite Reef Road was closed between McDowell and Coronado, police said.
After more than a dozen demands from police to come outside, Kauakahi stepped out of the front door of the bar and was taken into custody shortly after 2 p.m., officials said.
Armed suspect update #2. Male suspect is in custody. No other outstanding suspects. The roads will be reopened shortly.
— ScottsdalePD (@ScottsdalePD) October 28, 2016
Scottsdale police said they are investigating the vehicle burglary and searching for the handgun.
When reached Friday evening, bar owner Mike Cuneo said the situation may have all been a misunderstanding.
Cuneo said it was a neighboring businesses that called police after seeing a man with a gun inside their business, but said Kauakahi is a regular and just wanted a drink.
Cuneo said no handgun was ever found inside his business.
