Just after 8:30 PM on Monday, June 23, 2025, Officers from the Rancho Cordova Police Department responded to the call of a robbery on Moraine Circle where a male, later identified as 37-year-old Ernest Polk, robbed another adult male and took his cell phone.  Later that night, at approximately 11:00 PM, Officers learned that Polk was inside a residence on the 2300 block of Loraine Circle.  Citing his lengthy criminal history and learning information that he was likely armed, they requested additional resources and personnel to attempt to call him out of the residence so he could surrender peacefully.  Several nearby homes were evacuated, while some residents chose to shelter in place.

Unfortunately, Polk continually refused to exit the residence, as Officers and Deputies from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office attempted to convince him for several hours.  At one point, Polk opened the garage door holding what appeared to be a black handgun, then went back inside the garage.  Members of the Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Detail (SWAT) were able to safely extract a female relative who was still inside the residence, so Polk was isolated and contained while negotiators from the Critical Incident Negotiations Team continued to implore Polk to surrender.

At approximately 3 AM (June 24), Polk exited the residence and surrendered peacefully.  He was taken into custody without incident and subsequently transported to the Sacramento County Main Jail, where he remains ineligible for bail.  He is scheduled to appear in court on June 26.

Detectives located the item Polk was holding during the standoff and learned it was, in fact, a pistol-shaped lighter, not an actual firearm.

Sergeant Amar Gandhi
Sheriff’s Spokesman
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office/Rancho Cordova Police Department