ESCONDIDO (CNS) - A five-hour standoff between a 22-year-old carjacking suspect and Escondido police SWAT officers ended today when the man surrendered and was arrested, authorities said.
Pedro Santana, a parolee and suspected member of a San Marcos street gang, had allegedly held up a woman at gunpoint in her car in Vista on Wednesday, said Sgt. Scott Miedecke of the North County Regional Gang Task Force.
Santana and the woman reportedly struggled over the gun and a round was fired inside the car.
After identifying Santana as the carjacking suspect and determining his address, gang detectives went to his apartment complex to arrest him just after 8 p.m. Friday. When attempts to contact Santana by phone and bullhorn failed, the Escondido police SWAT team was called in, Miedecke said.
More than 20 people were evacuated from the large apartment complex on 1825 E. Valley Pkwy. in Escondido during the conflict, according to the Escondido Police Department.
He said Santana's girlfriend and their 2-year-old daughter were also inside the apartment during the standoff. At about 1:30 a.m. today Santana stepped out of his apartment and surrendered without incident, Miedecke said.
Santana was booked at the Vista Detention Facility for carjacking and a parole violation just after 4:15 a.m. today, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.
--
PREVIOUS STORY BELOW
--
By News 8's Richard Allyn
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (CBS 8) - Escondido police have called in a SWAT team to respond to a suspect wanted for violent crimes who has holed up inside an apartment off of the 1800 block of East Valley Parkway.
Police have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Pedro Santana of San Marcos. While police would not reveal the specific alleged crimes Santana is wanted for, they were described as "violent." Based on Santana's alleged criminal past, police are considering him armed and dangerous.
SWAT team members have set up a perimeter around the Parkway Village Apartments, across the street from Escondido Charter High School, as they attempt to get Santana to surrender.
Escondido police do not believe there are any hostages at this time. Police are evacuating residents in adjoining apartments, and also attempting to establish communication with the suspect.
Police are also concerned that Santana may try to climb onto the roof of the building to sneak into another apartment, in order to elude capture.
