SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A stolen trailer investigation in a Mira Mesa neighborhood evolved into a standoff that lasted several hours Friday morning before five people were taken into police custody.
According to San Diego Police, at around 1 a.m., a person reported their trailer had been stolen and they discovered that the stolen trailer was posted on Facebook Marketplace. The reporting party said they tracked the trailer to the 7800 block of Calico Street.
When responding officers searched the neighborhood, they found another trailer about a block away that was also reported stolen.
A man who was inside that trailer initially refused officers’ orders to come out, but he eventually surrendered without incident. ABC 10News learned officers discovered a gun inside that trailer.
The other trailer was parked in front of a home, but four people believed to be linked to the thefts refused to leave house when they were asked to exit by officers.
As a standoff ensued, a SWAT team and vehicle arrived at the scene at around 7:45 a.m.
Just before 10 a.m., SWAT officers entered the home and used flash bangs in attempt to get the four people to leave the home.
The three men and a woman inside were eventually detained, but no other details on their apprehension were released.
SDPD officials at the scene said they are investigating the possibility that the home served as a base for an organized crime ring.
Capt. Michael Ramsey, with the SDPD Northeast Division, said, “No one wants this in their community, especially if it's a chop shop or an active criminal organization that's going on. So yes, it's something we're taking seriously and we're going to use our search warrants, our SWAT teams to handle these types of issues.”
The owner of one of the stolen trailers told ABC 10News reporter Adam Campos that his trailer was stolen more than two weeks ago.
He said he was supposed to go on a camping trip with his family, but when he went to a storage to retrieve it, the trailer was gone.
A San Diego Unified School District official said nearby Salk Elementary School was not affected by the police activity and was not placed on lockdown.
During the ordeal, residents who lived near the home were told to shelter-in-place.
