An 88-year-old Petaluma man known for his longtime role as Santa Claus was arrested Sunday following an armed standoff with police, authorities said.

Ron Shipley, who spent decades greeting locals as Santa every holiday season at various locations in downtown Petaluma, became the subject of an hours-long standoff after officers were dispatched to his home in the 1300 block of Marian Way at around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, according to the Petaluma Police Department.

Police said Shipley “had armed himself with a firearm following a disturbance with family members,” and that responding officers “learned that the subject had exited the home and was in the backyard with the firearm.”

The officers deployed a drone, which located Shipley in his backyard, and according to police the drone “captured the subject firing a single round while in the backyard.” That round was fired at the house, police said.

“The evidence indicates the subject fired a single round from the backyard toward the residence while a family member was inside,” said Petaluma police Lt. Matthew Parnow in an email to the Argus-Courier. “The round did not penetrate into the home, and fortunately, no one was injured.”

Police immediately evacuated the family member from the house, and what followed was “several hours of attempted negotiations,” after which officers were able to enter the residence and take Shipley into custody without further incident. He was taken to Sonoma County jail and booked on suspicion of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.

Afterward, police said, “A subsequent search of the residence was conducted with the assistance of Canine Pinky, a Labrador/Pointer mix specially trained to detect the odor of firearms and ammunition. Canine Pinky alerted to the location where the firearm was concealed, and officers recovered the weapon believed to have been used in this incident.” The type of firearm was not immediately disclosed.

Petaluma police said they were assisted during the incident by the Department of Fish and Game, the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Henry-1 helicopter providing air support.

No reason was given for Shipley’s alleged behavior during the incident. A records search turned up no criminal or court records under his name.

Asked whether Shipley’s advanced age may have something to do with Sunday’s incident, Parnow replied, “The subject’s exact motive is not known at this time. While his age may raise questions about his mental state, we cannot speculate on medical or psychological conditions. That determination would need to be made by qualified professionals.”

A retired PG&E gas-line expert, Shipley has lived in Petaluma since 1957. He told the Argus-Courier in 2016 that his love for Christmas — matched with a natural Santa-like beard and demeanor — led him to take up the role of St. Nick at various downtown locations, including the Lan Mart building and aboard the “Barbara Lind” tugboat as it chugs into the Turning Basin during the annual Santa’s Riverboat Arrival ceremony and parade, which traditionally takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

“It’s fun and I just love the kids’ expressions,” Shipley said at the time. While on the boat, he added, “I yell and shout and I do my ‘ho ho ho’ all the way down the river, people come out from apartments and they’re all waving.”

In recent years he stepped down from his role as Santa, handing it off to Al Ferrando.