SWAT TEAM ENDS STAND-OFF WITH SWORD-WIELDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUSPECT

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

February 27, 2013 (El Cajon) – SWAT team officers used tear gas to end a six-hour standoff and arrest Ennis Staten, 37, a domestic violence suspect who allegedly battered his wife, then threatened to kill himself and stab officers. 

El Cajon Police officers responded to a report of domestic violence at 353 Dominguez in El Cajon last night at 11:04 p.m. last night (Feb. 26), where a woman told them her husband had struck her repeatedly. Officers found her outside the apartment, suffering from facial injuries. She was transported to a hospital for treatment.

 

 

10News video

Officers established communications with the suspect, who was still inside the apartment.

“He threatened to kill himself and also said he would stab officers if they came into the apartment.  During the initial stages of the incident, Staten was seen with multiple knives, including a machete,” said Lt. Tim Henton.

Staten began breaking things inside the apartment, and continually challenged officers to come inside to get him, Staten added. 

A SWAT call-out was initiated.  Crisis negotiators spoke to Staten throughout the night, but were unsuccessful in convincing him to surrender. 

Around 5 a.m., after determining that Staten was not willing to exit the apartment on his own, officials deployed tear gas into the residence. Within about 30 minutes, Staten exited the apartment, armed with two swords. 

“He was still non-compliant, refusing to drop the weapons or follow commands,” Lt. Henton stated in a media release.  “SWAT officers used a *less-lethal* sponge round, which is similar to a beanbag round. This caused Staten to drop the swords and comply with orders.”

Staten was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation. 

After his release from the hospital, Staten will be booked into County Jail and charged with Spousal Abuse, False Imprisonment, Criminal Threats and Threats Against a Peace Officer.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.