ESCONDIDO–A 20 year-old man was arrested and charged with battery and resisting arrest after a SWAT standoff Tuesday at his Escondido home.
Escondido police officers responded to a family disturbance in the 800 block of W. 11th Avenue. The caller stated a male had punched his mother. The victim suffered bruising to her face and a small abrasion. She was offered and declined medical treatment at the scene.
Officers arrived at the home and made contact with the family. Shortly after arriving the officers requested emergency assistance when Romo threatened the officers with a baseball bat and began to light items in the home on fire. The officers safely evacuated three other family members while Romo remained inside the home.
Officers on scene requested the assistance of the Escondido Fire Department, the Emergency Negotiations Team, Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, and the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit. Negotiations with Romo occurred over the course of several hours. During the interaction Romo was non-compliant and refused to leave the home.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence. Once the warrant was obtained the SWAT team deployed several tear gas rounds into the room in which Romo was barricaded. Approximately 1 minute later Romo left the residence by climbing out of a bedroom window. Romo was confronted by members of the SWAT team and was taken into custody without an additional use of force.
There were no injuries to Romo or any of the officers an scene. Romo was transported to the Escondido Police and Fire Headquarters where he was interviewed by investigators. Romo was transported to the Vista Detention Facility and booked on the charges of battery and violently resisting arrest. Additional charges are being evaluated and may be added at a later time.
