WATSONVILLE — A Watsonville man was arrested early Tuesday morning after an 11-hour standoff that began when he attacked his mother, Watsonville Police Sgt. Mish Radich said.
Raymond Matias, 29, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats and child endangerment, all felonies. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.
Police also believe Matias tried to use a stove to set the residence on fire, and police are recommending attempted arson charges, Radich said.
He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
According to Radich, officers responded to a residence on the 100 block of Maranatha Drive at about 5:24 p.m. on Monday, where they spoke with a 61-year-old victim who said her mentally ill son attacked her.
She told the officers that Matias was armed with a chain, a sledgehammer and a long wooden rod.
The victim escaped, along with two small children who live in the home, Radich said.
She suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
When officers tried to contact Matias, he refused to cooperate and barricaded himself inside the residence using furniture to block the doors, Radich said.
The suspect also started a small fire in the backyard of the home, which was extinguished by the Watsonville Fire Department.
Crisis negotiators were among the first officers to arrive at the scene, and tried to persuade Matias to surrender. The Watsonville Police Special Response Team (SRT) later arrived to help.
Police evacuated several homes as a precaution.
Detectives secured an arrest warrant for Matias, and a search warrant for the home.
After more than seven hours of negotiations failed, SRT members inserted chemical agents into the home in an attempt to get Matias out of the house.
When they did, Matias allegedly threw several items such as light bulbs, dishes and toiletries at them, Radich said.
He then threatened the officers with a chain when they entered. Officers deployed a canine officer and used a Taser during the arrest, Radich said.
Matias was arrested at 3:55 a.m., and treated by paramedics at the scene before being transported to a local hospital for injuries he suffered during his arrest.
