WATSONVILLE — At least two dozen police officers, including a SWAT team, converged on the scene at a gun range after reports that the business was burglarized early Wednesday.
At 6:30 a.m., police were alerted to a possible burglary at Markley’s Indoor Range on Blanca Lane in Watsonville.
They learned that a host of weapons had possibly been stolen. Sgt. Brian Ridgway said there was a trail of guns and ammo leading up to the door, evidently spilled in the heist.
Police quickly shut down Blanca Lane between Freedom Boulevard and Vic Rugh Lane. Multiple law agencies were involved including a SWAT team.
Ridgway said police initially tried to clear the building but were unsure if possible suspects were still indoors. No suspects have been detained, and no injuries have been reported. No shots have been fired.
Police did release pepper spray into the building in hopes of flushing any suspects out but to no avail.
About noon heavily armed police entered the business and spent hours clearing the building. About 2:30 p.m. police did find a loaded gun. At 3 p.m. police brought in a thermal imaging camera in hopes of locating any suspects inside Markley’s.
The nearby Hearts and Hands Christian Child Care and Preschool and Center for Employment Training were placed on lockdown throughout the ordeal.
The search was still underway after 4 p.m. and Blanca Lane remained closed. Police eventually cleared the building around 4:30 p.m. with no suspects located. Several officers did, however, remain on the scene to flesh out the investigation.
