IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. - A 911 hang-up call from an Imperial Beach residence led sheriff's deputies to two small children and a knife-wielding man who was later taken for a mental health evaluation, sheriff's officials said.

The deputies spotted the 24-year-old man, who was holding a large kitchen knife and pacing around in an agitated manner, through the window of a residence on Fern Avenue near 13th Street shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, according to sheriff's Sgt. Mark Andersen. Two small children were also spotted inside, he said.

His relationship to the children was unclear.

The man refused to open the door or talk to the deputies and told them to leave, Andersen said. After about an hour, the deputies convinced the man to open the door and hand over the children, Andersen said.

The suspect was not arrested, but was taken to County Mental Health for an evaluation, Andersen said. The kids were released to their mother, he said.