Responding to a call about a suspicious man, a Morgan Hill
Police SWAT team and state parole agents arrested a wanted
felon.
Morgan Hill – Responding to a call about a suspicious man, a Morgan Hill Police SWAT team and state parole agents arrested a wanted felon.
Miguel Salinas, 28, of Hollister, was taken to Santa Clara County Jail on a no-bail warrant for assault with a deadly weapon and prior gang enhancements.
The incident began about 9am Tuesday when a resident of an apartment complex at 15295 La Alameda reported seeing a man in the parking lot with a semiautomatic handgun in the trunk of a vehicle. The caller told police he believed the man was visiting a female resident of the complex.
Officers responded to the complex and located the vehicle. Learning that Salinas had the outstanding warrant and the prior charge, officers attempted to phone the woman, later identified as Jaymie Gamino, 23, of Morgan Hill.
When officers could not contact Gamino, the SWAT and state officers were called. About 10 residents were evacuated.
Over an hour’s period a hostage negotiator attempted to talk with Salinas, but no one answered the phone inside the apartment.
The SWAT team then entered the apartment and found Salinas in the attic of an adjacent apartment. After a brief struggle, he was taken into custody, four hours after the incident began.
Gamino was arrested for harboring a felon.
No weapon was located.
Sampson said Salinas was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, and the no-bail warrant was issued for because he was violating the conditions of his parole.
“If, for example, he’s on parole for burglary, we’re not as concerned about what he’s doing at the apartment complex as if he’s on parole for assault with a deadly weapon,” MHPD Lt. Joe Sampson said Wednesday in explaining why the SWAT team was called out. “That speaks to the level of violence he is perhaps willing to commit.”
Marilyn Dubil is a staff writer. Reach her at
md****@mo*************.com
or 408-779-4106 Ext. 202.
