Home violence suspect taken into custody after hours-long standoff in central Fresno

By Jason Wilson Last updated Aug 3, 2021

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) – An hour-long police battle in downtown Fresno ended after a man suspected of domestic violence was detained overnight.

It started just before 3 p.m. Monday in a house on Shields and Delno Avenues. Police said they received an 911 call from an alleged victim.

The officers spoke to a woman who told them that her husband had come home from work. They got into an argument and then she said he attacked her.

She said she ran out of the house, called the police, and left her husband and two-year-old daughter in the house.

The crisis negotiators worked for hours to keep in touch with the barricaded man. The authorities tried to negotiate with him to get the child released.

Late on Monday evening, he handed the child over to a SWAT officer.

Moments later he started pouring gasoline on his porch and lit it.

Police officers helped put out the flames. The fire didn’t seem to damage the house.

At around 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, officials threw tear gas into the house. The man tried to escape through his back, but the officers were able to take him into custody.

Investigators said after many hours they were grateful that the incident ended peacefully.

“Nothing was rushed. Our crisis negotiation team did a great job communicating with this person who sometimes refused to communicate and successfully brought this to a calm decision to hand over the child, “said Fresno Police Lt. Brian Valles.

According to the police, the man is 45 years old.

He was taken into custody and then taken to the Community Regional Medical Center where he was treated for exposure to tear gas.

He is being admitted to Fresno County Jail on multiple domestic violence charges and having an illegal rifle in the house.

According to the police, the woman should be fine. The little girl was returned to her safe and sound.

If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence, help is available 24/7. In Fresno County, call the Marjaree Mason Center at (559) 233-4357. At all other locations, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.