Father Arrested After 8-Hour Standoff Involving SWAT Team, Evacuations

A SWAT action that forced the evacuation of at least a half-dozen homes ended shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday in northwest La Mesa when a man was Tasered on his porch, police said.

A parolee accused of making threats against his 20-year-old son was arrested following the nearly eight-hour standoff with officers, police said.   Police identified the father as William Warnock.

Warnock’s wife reported the threats, stating that he said he would hurt her and kill their 20-year-old son with a large screwdriver, said La Mesa police Lt. David Bond.

Responding officers learned Warnock was on parole for evading the police, and that there were three guns in the home, so they called him on the telephone and asked him to come outside, Bond said.

He refused to come out and speak with officers, prompting the standoff, which involved La Mesa police and an El Cajon SWAT team.

Officers set off flash-bang grenades to coax Warnock out, but the standoff persisted with only intermittent contact between Warnock and police until shortly after 6 a.m., when Warnock stepped outside and was Tasered by an officer, Bond said.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats. A handgun, shotgun and loaded rifle were found in the home following
Warnock's arrest, according to Bond.

During the standoff, residents of six nearby homes were evacuated and Blain Place was closed at Nagel Avenue and Dallas Street. The street was reopened at 7 a.m., at which time evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes.

City News Service contributed to this report.