SWAT standoff shakes up South Bay neighborhood

CHULA VISTA (CNS) – A man suspected of domestic violence and stealing
police equipment surrendered to authorities Tuesday but five people with him in a
Chula Vista home initially refused to come out, leading to a SWAT standoff that
ended with their surrender several hours later.

Officers investigating the alleged assault, reported in San Diego on
Monday evening, tracked the alleged perpetrator — 20-year-old Mark Edward
Walters Jr. — to a house in the 1800 block of Ithaca Street in Chula Vista,
according to police.

Upon being contacted by telephone, Walters came out of the residence and
surrendered peacefully about 3 a.m., CVPD Lt. Phil Collum said.

Five other occupants of the home, however, refused officers' repeated
orders to come outside, prompting officials to call in a special-weapons and
tactics team. A stretch of the street in front of the house was closed to
through traffic as a precaution.

The stalemate continued until about 6:30 a.m., when the five finally
came outside and were taken into custody. After being questioned, the detainees
were released and were not expected to face charges. It was unclear why they
initially refused to cooperate with police, Collum said.

Officers, meanwhile, searched the house for a police rifle and several
law enforcement radios stolen Sunday during an auto burglary in Chula Vista.
The gear was not in the house, but the electronic devices were found dumped in
shrubbery down the street, the lieutenant said. The firearm remained missing as
of this afternoon.

Walters, a Chula Vista resident, was booked only for the alleged
domestic violence, though remained a suspect in the car break-in and police
equipment theft. He was being held in San Diego Central Jail on $50,000 bail
pending arraignment, scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Walters is acquainted with at least one resident of the home where the
standoff occurred, Collum said.