A tense three-hour standoff outside a north Gilroy home
suspected to be harboring a parolee equipped with firearms ended
about 7:15 p.m. today with a special operations team knocking down
the door, but not making any arrests.
A tense three-hour standoff outside a north Gilroy home suspected to be harboring a parolee equipped with firearms ended about 7:15 p.m. today with a special operations team knocking down the door, but not making any arrests.
About 12:45 p.m., officers arrived at parolee Robert Pena’s second-floor apartment, 776 El Cerrito Way, near its intersection with Wren Avenue, police said. During about three hours of surveillance, officers noticed a white car – associated with the suspect – leave the residence.
Police followed the car south through Gilroy in pursuit, police said. The man inside, Steven Spille, an active gang member, tried to evade officers, but ended up crashing into a fence at the Pacific Mobile Home Estates on 10th Street near Rosanna Street.
Spille then got out of the vehicle and ran away from officers, police said. Officers caught up with Spille – who at times made motions as if reaching for something in his waistband – and managed to arrest him without further incident. A loaded, medium-caliber handgun was found near Spille.
Neighbors in the area of the mobile home complex said they saw officers approach Spille with guns drawn. In addition, the high school was put on lockdown, neighbors said.
Neither police nor school officials could confirm through phone calls late tonight that the school was on lockdown.
After the incident, police returned to Pena’s residence and tried to get him out of his apartment, police said. Pena, a known gang member, would have been in violation of his parole if he was in possession of weapons.
During the following three hours, the apartment building was slowly evacuated, said residents, many of whom were peering out of nearby houses to videotape or photograph the event.
In addition, police blocked vehicle and pedestrian traffic within about a block radius of the house.
About 7 p.m., police made to end the standoff.
“We are not leaving,” a policeman said through a loudspeaker. “Come out with your hands up.”
About 10 special operations team members – wearing helmets and bulletproof vests while toting large guns – filed up the apartment building’s outside stairs and approached the front door. There was a bright flash from something the team placed near the door then members knocked down the door using an object similar in shape and size to a door.
One man exited the neighboring apartment with his hands up and was allowed to stand nearby unattended.
However, no civilians exited the suspected apartment.
Police confirmed that Pena was not present.
While most of the special operations left the scene by 7:45 p.m., officers and detectives were still combing the house for evidence.
Police are conducting an ongoing investigation.
More information and photos will be posted online and published in Tuesday’s edition of the Dispatch.
