LOMA LINDA: Shotgun-wielding felon arrrested after hostage crisis and 9-hour stand-off

LOMA LINDA – San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials arrested a man accused of taking two people hostage at gunpoint Wednesday, Dec. 28. The incident started about 8:22 a.m., in the 26600 block of Romero Road in the unincorporated area of Loma Linda.

The suspect, was identified as Isaac Michael Castillo, 28, of San Bernardino.

After his arrest, officials charged Castillo with suspicion of making criminal threats, residential burglary, false imprisonment, felon in possession of a firearm, and being under the influence of narcotics while armed with a gun.

The incident began after deputies from the sheriff’s Central, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, and Highland police stations were dispatched to a residence after receiving a 911 call from a person reporting a man with a gun. They were assisted by officers from the City of Redlands Police Department.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s aviation unit arrived at the scene while ground units were still responding to the location.

As the aviation unit flew overhead they observed a subject, who was later identified as Castillo, breaking into a residence through a window. Aviation members reported that Castillo was armed with a shotgun.

At about the same time, the victims frantically called 911 dispatchers, advising that Castillo had broken into their residence. The caller told dispatchers Castillo was armed with a shotgun and was holding them hostage.

When law enforcement officials arrived they surrounded the residence and began efforts to contact Castillo inside the home.

During the stand-off, one female victim managed to escape from the residence and make contact with deputies. The victim told officials her cousin was was Castillo’s girlfriend and she was inside the residence with Castillo. The victim who escaped from the home also told deputies Castillo was armed with a shotgun and threatening to kill his girlfriend, who has not been publicly identified.

Officials immediately began evacuating residents in the area as they established a perimeter around the victim’s residence.

During the stand-off, officials made numerous announcements into the residence using a PA system “in an effort to gain Castillo’s safe surrender,” according to sheriff’s officials.

During the stand-off, detectives conducted a records search and learned Castillo was a convicted felon on active parole and had a no-bail bail warrant for violation of parole. They learned Castillo was recently released from prison for prior weapons violations. He is also a documented member of a criminal street gang with an extensive history of violence.

When Castillo refused to exit the home, on-scene deputies requested assistance from the Sheriff’s SWAT Team.

When the SWAT Team arrived they assumed control of the incident.

“After eight hours of negotiations, Castillo surrendered to SWAT personnel,” officials explained. “The second victim was then able to exit the residence as she was found to be unharmed.”

Neither of the victims were injured during the incident, according to sheriff’s officials.

After the victims were safely removed from the residence and Castillo was in custody, detectives from the sheriff’s Central Station served a search warrant at the victim’s home.

During the service of the search warrant, detectives located a stolen, loaded sawed off shotgun that Castillo had been armed with during the incident.

Officials determined that Castillo had stolen the shotgun on Christmas day and they believe Castillo may have used the shotgun to commit other crimes.

Sheriff’s officials have encouraged any other victims to contact the San Bernardino County Detective Bureau.

A jail record search revealed Castillo was booked into the Central Detention Center where he is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday, December 30.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Central Station Detective Bureau at (909) 387-3545. Callers can refer to incident file number 011605625. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact the WeTip at 1 (800) 78-CRIME.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.