The neighbor’s report sounded serious: A man sitting on a house roof was pointing a rifle at the roadway.

Sheriff’s deputies and a helicopter headed to San Pasqual Valley Road south of Brookhollow Glen, where Escondido city limits meet an unincorporated neighborhood.

California Highway Patrol officers blocked traffic to keep motorists out of the rifle range.

After the 911 call at 4:37 p.m., deputies held back while the helicopter crew maneuvered to get an eye on the house. They saw a man lying on the roof, aiming the rifle, sheriff’s officials said.


Then the man left the roof and wasn’t seen. The tense situation lasted more than an hour. Finally, deputies approached the house.

A woman came out and explained everything, sheriff’s Lt. James Cady said.

Her husband was on the roof hunting gophers.

He apparently didn’t see any and had not fired any rounds.


Cady said deputies left without making an arrest, and the CHP reopened San Pasqual Valley Road about 5:50 p.m.


pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard