The Gilroy and Chico police departments have released the names
of the two suspects wanted for murder in Chico. Antonio
Linarez-Montes and Timothy Miles Nunez were arrested Saturday in
Gilroy after a four-hour standoff with police and a regional SWAT
team, made up of members of the Gilroy and Morgan Hill police
departments. Click on the full article to view the press releases
from the GPD and Chico police.
The Gilroy and Chico police departments have released the names of the two suspects wanted for murder in Chico. Antonio Linarez-Montes and Timothy Miles Nunez were arrested Saturday in Gilroy after a four-hour standoff with police and a regional SWAT team, made up of members of the Gilroy and Morgan Hill police departments.
A SWAT team arrested Chico residents Linarez-Montes, 19, and Nunez, 18, after the operation closed part of Monterey Road and forced residents in the street’s 7000 block to evacuate, according to the GPD.
Backed by the protection of a BearCat – a recently purchased armored tactical vehicle – police waited several hours for the suspects to surrender from a condominium situated just north of 10th street along Monterey Road, GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao said.
While the SWAT team waited for the suspects, police also arrested several other individuals who surrendered from the building. Gallacinao said it was unlikely those individuals were involved in the Chico murder, but police will investigate whether they knowingly aided the murder suspects.
At 9 a.m. – hours before the arrests – at least two young Hispanic males were taken away from the area in a police SUV.
GPD Chief Denise Turner said they had not been arrested but were being questioned by Gilroy police detectives to help determine whether the subjects being sought were actually in the residence.
“They are wanted in conjunction with a felony investigation,” Turner said. “We’re doing this as a courtesy mutual aid for that organization.”
Police apprehended the murder suspects around 11 a.m., Gallacinao said.
“We’re proud to say once again that the suspects were apprehended without any injuries or further incident,” Gallacinao said. “The police department is committed to improving the safety and quality of life of residents in Gilroy.”
On Friday night, police in Chico notified the GPD it had arrest warrants worth $1 million each for the two suspects, Gallacinao said.
Chico police told the GPD the suspects were believed to be in Gilroy, and officers developed probable cause that the suspects were in a residence in the 7000 block on Monterey Road, Gallacinao said.
On Saturday morning, police activated the regional SWAT team, made up of members of the Gilroy and Morgan Hill police departments.
Camoflage-clad officers armed with law-enforcement versions of AR-15 rifles were huddled around the BearCat vehicle in the courtyard directly outside the doors leading to the row of condominium homes.
An officer using a loud bullhorn repeatedly called for the suspects to come out.
“We know you’re hiding in there,” he bellowed.
It was the first time local law enforcement used the $285,000 vehicle since it was delivered to the GPD Jan. 26. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department obtained the vehicle through an Urban Area Security Initiative Program grant.
Police closed nearby businesses, including a liquor store and a hair salon, and the California Highway Patrol arrived just before 10 a.m. to block off Monterey Road between Ninth and 10th streets.
The relatively new condominium complex sits directly south of and behind Pinocchio’s Pizza. Police cars were stationed at the 7-11 convenience store on 10th Street as well.
A small crowd gathered at the corner of Ninth and Monterey streets to take in the military-looking scene while police conducted the operation. Perhaps 20 officers were in and around the vicinity.
Turner said the area was not a trouble spot for Gilroy.
“It’s a pretty quiet neighborhood,” she said.
Dispatch editor Mark Derry contributed to this story.
var docstoc_docid=”71026355″;var docstoc_title=”Chico Police press release”;var docstoc_urltitle=”Chico Police press release”;Chico Police press release
var docstoc_docid=”71026358″;var docstoc_title=”Gilroy Police Department press release”;var docstoc_urltitle=”Gilroy Police Department press release”;Gilroy Police Department press release
