PALM CITY, Calif. (KGTV) — An auto theft suspect barricaded himself in an SUV at a South Bay motel, prompting a seven-hour SWAT standoff Thursday.
SWAT officers surrounded the SUV in the E-Z 8 Motel on Outer Rd. at around 9 a.m. in the Palm City neighborhood, near Otay Mesa West.
About 4 p.m., the suspect surrendered with his hands up.
The suspect, identified as a man in his late 20s or early 30s, was the suspect of auto thefts in the South Bay and has a criminal history in the National City area, according to San Diego Police. Police had previously told 10News the man was a hit-and-run suspect.
National City Police responded to the motel Thursday morning waiting for the suspect to exit, according to SDPD. The suspect and his girlfriend got into the parked SUV.
When police surrounded the pair, the woman surrendered but the suspect did not. She was not arrested, police told 10News.
Police initially believed the suspect was armed, they're continuing to search his motel room and vehicle for the gun.
