A man who allegedly forced his way into a Midway- area motel room Wednesday without paying for it and then assaulted an employee who tried to roust him holed up inside when police arrived, prompting an hours-long SWAT standoff that ended in his arrest.
Sean Ross, 58, allegedly attacked the manager of Bay Inn and Suites Sea World with a bottle and a chair in the 3300 block of Midway Drive shortly after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the San Diego Police Department.
While reporting the alleged crimes, the victim, who had suffered minor injuries, told a 911 dispatcher he thought he had seen a gun in the room that Ross was in, SDPD Sgt. Saum Poorsaleh said.
When officers showed up, Ross allegedly retreated into the room and locked himself in. After trying in vain for about an hour to get the suspect to come out and give himself up peaceably, police called in special weapons and tactics personnel.
As the standoff got underway, officers evacuated the motel and closed a stretch of the thoroughfare fronting it.
The stalemate continued into the mid-afternoon, until officers fired concussion grenades and tear gas into the room that Ross allegedly had commandeered. The suspect then walked out and surrendered.
(photo: kgtv)