UPDATE: Standoff in Salinas neighborhood ends after suspect escapes
UPDATE: 2/18/16 3:00 PM: The man who kept local and federal authorities at bay for more than 36 hours has vanished. U.S. Marshals stormed a house in the 1300 block of Cherokee Dr. Thursday morning to find Agustin Leon-Palomares, but he was not inside.
After a second look through the house, officials determined he escaped but couldn’t say when. This development follows a 40 hour standoff at the home where officials say he was hiding in his parent’s home. He was last seen there on Tuesday night.
“He had punched through there and I could see him sticking his arms out and you could see all the laser dots, the red dots that aimed at him from all the rifles,” said neighbor William Theilen. “He ducked back down when he saw all those red dots.”
Officials say the known gang member is armed and dangerous with an extensive violent history. He was arrested for driving under the influence in 2013 and 2014. He faces domestic violence charges in Santa Cruz County. Palomares is described as a 30-year-old Hispanic man, 5’7″, 175 lbs with a large tattoo on his neck.
The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force was on scene for many hours before leaving Thursday morning. The task force is made up of different law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Oakland Police and the Department of Corrections.
UPDATE 2/17/16 10:15 AM:Henry F.Kammann Elementary School officials confirmed with KION that Salinas Police put the school on lockdown due to the activity on Cherokee Drive.
The school, located onRochex Ave, was put on lockdown for about an hour. That lockdown was cleared just before 10 a.m.
UPDATE 2/17/16 9:10 AM: The standoff on Cherokee Drive is still going on. Authorities have been in contact with the suspect who is holed up in his parents home. They’re still using a loud speaker to try and convince him to come out.
ORIGINAL STORY: A standoff is underway Tuesday night in Salinas between the U.S. Marshal Service and a suspect.
Marshals saidAugustin Leon-Palomares has warrants for his arrest in Santa Cruz County and is holed up in his parents home in the 1300 block of Cherokee Dr.
Investigators said they think Leon-Palomares has a gun and is also wanted for making terrorist threats to people.
Salinas police officers are also on scene.
