Editor’s note: This story has been updated from a previous version.
WATSONVILLE—A lengthy standoff between a man with a handgun who broke into his ex-girlfriend’s Watsonville home and heavily-armed police ended peacefully after more than nine hours.
Around 1am Tuesday Jessie Andrade, 30, crashed through a window of a home on Ginos Court near Airport Boulevard and pointed a gun at his ex-girlfriend, their 4-year-old son, and her father, Watsonville Police Department Spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said. The residents were able to escape the house safely.
Andrade is facing several criminal charges, including felony criminal threats, brandishing of a firearm, felony burglary, violation of a domestic violence restraining order, and resisting/delaying his arrest.
Watsonville police surrounded the home and called for help from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. WPD’s Special Response Unit, consisting of tactical operators and crisis negotiators, was called in. Santa Cruz Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Special Response Team, both of whom provided armored vehicles and additional tactical operators, also responded to the standoff.
Several surrounding homes were evacuated as heavily-armed police took up positions around the home.
Around 10:30am the tense standoff came to a peaceful end after Andrade surrendered to police.
