Smoke can be seen billowing in Justin Ave, the scene of the Glenroy siege involving Antonio Loguancio. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: Herald Sun
UPDATE: A MARATHON siege involving Antonio Loguancio has ended as police confirm after a body was found in a bungalow in Glenroy this evening.
Deputy Commissioner Tim Cartwright said a coroners investigation is now underway following the siege in Justin Ave, which started at 7pm on Friday.
"Unfortunately we have now located the body of a man at the rear of the premise," Deputy Commissioner Cartwright said.
"This is a tragedy ... our aim is to resolve with minimal injury and loss of life.. to protect the police members involved and the public."
He said it was "not the outcome police had hoped for" and that the matter is now with the coroner.
Smoke had earlier been seen billowing from the property in Justin Ave after a series of loud bangs were heard just before 2pm.
Smoke can be seen billowing in Justin Ave. Picture: Mark Dadswell
Sirens began blaring about 12.15pm, police asking over a loudspeaker: "Come to the front door with nothing in your hands. Walk down the driveway and you will be met by police."
Onlookers are descending on the scene with officers forced to tell several to move on.
Residents are being escorted in and out of their homes for safety.
Earlier, Superintendent Peter O'Neill said an exhausted Loguancio was fearful of returning to jail.
The marathon standoff between a serial rapist and police in Melbourne's north has ended
He said police were in regular contact with Loguancio, who had spoken to police over the phone as recently as about 7am.
A powerful police presence remains at the scene, which is still blocked off to the public, with the ambulance and fire brigade on standby as the standoff enters its third day.
The scene is now quiet after sirens were intermittently sounded throughout the night.
Last night, police confirmed Loguancio was seen with something strapped to his body.
The 40-year-old was seen with the object when he approached the door about 3pm in his bungalow in a quiet street in Melbourne's north.
A firetruck at the scene where smoke can be seen billowing in Justin Ave. Picture: Mark Dadswell
Loguancio was cornered by police at 7pm on Friday.
Childhood friend Cindy Shaw, at the scene, said: "I tried to get a message through but they (police) just want him calm at the moment - he's getting tired."
"I just want to get him to chill, come out hopefully, and all this can be over."
Ms Shaw said Loguancio was misunderstood.
"He has always looked after me," she said. "I was like his little sister. He was always kind and we had a lot of fun."
Police spring into action after loud bangs were heard during the Glenroy siege. Picture: Mark Dadswell
Ms Shaw said everyone wanted the siege to end safely.
"I just want it to end," she said. "I want him to come out and just be safe. Everyone who cares about him wants him to just be all right."
Resident Sue Blake, who lives just three doors away from the siege house, said she hadn't slept since the drama began on Friday night.
"I feel safe with the police around us but I feel scared with the situation happening here," she said.
Ms Blake said she had heard police negotiators trying to talk Loguancio into surrendering.
Antonio Loguancio. Picture: Victoria Police
"They are just trying to keep him calm and tell him to come out - it will be ok, it's solvable. I am very impressed."
Police said he had not been given any food. It was unclear if he had slept since the standoff began.
Nearby residents come to watch the siege action in Glenroy yesterday. Picture: Chris Scott
Police were blowing a loud siren about 6 o'clock last night to keep Loguancio awake.
A robot was seen entering the property to assess the situation.
Victoria Police Superintendent Dean Stevenson said Loguancio was having mood swings.
"He did come out at some stage with something strapped to him, but we haven't been able to establish if that was a firearm or not," Supt Stevenson said.
"It was either on his arm or on his chest."
Nearby residents watch the siege action in Justin Ave, Glenroy, yesterday. Picture: Chris Scott
He did not confirm if police knew whether Loguancio had taken drugs.
Police wanted him to surrender peacefully and to take him to a police station, Supt Stevenson said.
"He will get an opportunity to see his family, opportunity to see a solicitor, to talk to a solicitor, an opportunity to talk to whoever he would like to talk to back at that police station," he said.
"We want to negotiate a peaceful resolution, we don't want anyone hurt out of this." Police have been pursuing Loguancio after an alleged assault on a woman a week ago.
Loguancio's best friend, Mick Collett, who was in regular phone contact with the fugitive, said Loguancio feared police would shoot him and did not want to go to jail.
Mr Collett said Loguancio was a night owl and had no intention of ending the siege.
"He just doesn't want to go to jail for something he didn't do - that's all it is," Mr Collett told the Sunday Herald Sun.
Loguancio's mother and sister were at the scene, but it was believed he had refused to speak to either of them.
Mr Collett said Loguancio should be enjoying a day at the Avalon Air Show with him instead of being under police siege.
John Lawrie, who described himself as Loguancio's 'surrogate brother', said he knows him as a lovable man and a big kid but has urged Loguancio to come out immediately.
''Just do yourself a favour...Just come out peacefully,''Mr Lawrie said.
Joe Greco, 54, whose Maude St property is directly behind the scene of the siege, said two armed Special Operations Group officers had jumped his fence on Friday night and continued to man the area.
"They explained they were police officers and said, 'Oh, this shouldn't be long' but then at about 10pm one of them told me it was confirmed he's got a shotgun," Mr Greco said.
"The whole neighbourhood has to be inconvenienced because of some actions.
"Out of all the places in Victoria this guy had to come and get held-up, it's at the back of mine."
Glenroy resident Craig Jackson, 49, said he wanted police to end the siege.
"They are playing to his every need and these poor people are trapped and can't leave their homes," he said.
On Thursday, police appealed for help finding Loguancio after he allegedly assaulted his partner and breached a court-imposed supervision order.
The assault happened five days earlier but police defended the decision not to go public sooner.
They believed Loguancio could be caught because he was a "creature of habit".
A man at the scene yesterday who claimed to know Loguancio said he wouldn't give up without a fight.
"I'm staying here to see what happens," he said. "It won't be pretty.
"He's not going back to jail, he told me that."
It is understood the man, who would not be named, had already been interviewed by police.
A friend said he hoped he could talk Loguancio out of doing something reckless.
- with Angus Thompson, Anthony Dowsley, Erin Marie, Christopher Gillett
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