Man Arrested after 3-Hour Eastside Stand-Off Print E-mail
By Tom Schultz   
Friday, June 29 2007

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Daniel Ortiz
An alleged gang member was arrested Thursday afternoon on the Eastside after a three-hour standoff with police, who said that earlier this week he was reportedly involved in a battery, threats of violence and unrelated vandalism in violation of his probation.

Daniel Ortiz, 22, was taken into custody shortly before 5 p.m. outside his residence on the 300 block of S. Soledad Street, after initially poking his head out a window and shouting to authorities that he would never surrender, Santa Barbara Police Lt. Paul McCaffrey said.

The arrest followed a tense confontation that began about 2 p.m. and drew a crowd of onlookers. More than three dozen officials including crisis negotiators and Santa Barbara city and county SWAT teams surrounded the suspect, on the belief he was armed. Authorities cordoned off three blocks of the residential neighborhood.

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Authorities escorted residents past the scene. The arrest followed a tense confontation that began about 2 p.m. and drew a crowd of onlookers plus more than three dozen officials including crisis negotiators. Photo by Tom Schultz / SBN
Ortiz eventually emerged on his own, distraught and with one of his wrists slit,  McCaffrey said at the scene, adding he was at first only semi-compliant and stood for several seconds outsiden his doorway with his hands behind his back as though holding or reaching for a weapon. Ortiz was taken under guard to Cottage Hospital for evaluation of the minor wound before being discharged to jailers.

"We believed he was willing to use desperate measures," McCaffrey said. In the end, "He had no where to turn."

Officers searched his home after the incident and found a replica handgun, he said.

Ortiz was taken to Santa Barbara County Jail and held without bail. He was booked on suspicion of violation of probation stemming from a prior felony conviction for possession of an illegal weapon, McCaffrey said.

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Santa Barbara Police Lt. Paul McCaffrey takes questions from TV crews and Santa Barbara Daily Sound reporter Colby Frazier. Photo by Tom Schultz / SBN
Police could not immediately provide any details about the type of weapon used in that case. The type of weapon involved in that case, and when the conviction ocurred, were not immediately available.

"Two days ago, police learned of his involvement in a battery incident and unrelated vandalism incident," McCaffrey said in a statement Thursday evening. "Sources told police that Ortiz had armed himself with a handgun, and threatened to use violence to avoid arrest. Based on this new information, Ortiz’s probation officer ordered that he be arrested."

McCaffrey told reporters that Ortiz has had prior contact with gang officers, who were called to the scene to help ease the situation.
 
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