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An armed man who broke into a Tierrasanta home and took two residents hostage was arrested early Saturday after a police officer stationed on a neighboring roof tried to shoot him through a window, police said.
The officer fired after hearing the suspect shoot a round in the home, San Diego police Capt. Rich Freedman told OnScene TV and other reporters at the scene. No one was injured by any of the shots.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, reportedly tried to break into two other houses before entering the two-story residence on Viacha Drive near Rueda Drive just after 2 a.m., Freedman said.
The crime spree began shortly after midnight, when a 911 caller reported that a man had tried to force his way into a house in Tierrasanta. The victim described the burglar as fleeing in a white minivan, Freedman said.
Officers arrived to the home but were unable to find the burglar or van.
About a half-hour later, police received another 911 call about a man trying to enter a house a few blocks away. Officers were also unable to find the prowler.
Then, an hour later, the call came from the home on Viacha. The residents, a woman and her elderly father, reported that someone was inside and that they had barricaded themselves inside a second-story room, Freedman said.
The burglar was able to break down the door and enter the room, threatening them.
“There was an assault,” Freedman told OnScene TV. “And a gun was produced.” Freedman said the gunman fired a round into the room.
“Officers were on scene, heard that round go off and entered the house,” he said.
Another officer climbed onto the roof of a neighbor’s home to get a view into the window and fired shots at the suspect, Freedman said. Video captured by OnScene TV shows the officer firing about six rounds from a rifle.
“He missed the suspect, but the suspect laid down and proned out and gave himself up,” the captain said.
The residents didn’t appear to be wounded and were being interviewed by investigators Saturday morning.
A white minivan that had been stolen was found parked outside the home, police said.
Source: This post first appeared on sandiegouniontribune.com
