By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights police responded to a reported domestic violence incident on Monday, Sept. 21 that led to a SWAT response after officers determined a woman was inside a home with an armed suspect and being held against her will.
The incident began around 11 a.m. when dispatch received a domestic violence call from a family member of the woman, who reported that her boyfriend was physically abusing her and holding her against her will in a home on Ponticelli Way.
When officers arrived, they were alerted that firearms were present in the home. After determining that the victim was still inside the residence, officers called in assistance from other agencies, including Folsom Police Department and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 unit.
The woman at one point was heard screaming from inside the home, police said. According to police radio scanner traffic, the victim’s family member reported that the victim’s boyfriend blocked the door on multiple occasions, not allowing her to leave the residence.
As SWAT officers prepared to attempt to contact the suspect, the woman ran out of the front door and into protective custody with police on scene.
While inside the home, the woman had reportedly been threatened with a knife, police said. Officers observed signs of physical abuse consistent with the victim’s family member’s reports, including signs of strangulation.
After the woman escaped, the suspect crawled out of a window into the backyard and ultimately surrendered without incident as the back was surrounded by SWAT officers, police said.
The ordeal lasted between two to three hours and ended peacefully. The suspect was arrested on multiple charges including domestic violence charges, holding someone against their will, and making criminal threats.
The suspect and victim’s names were not released.
