A man suspected of breaking into an Escondido house and taking firearms was arrested Monday night following a standoff with the Escondido police SWAT team.

A resident reported their home in the Oak Hill area was burglarized about 10:30 a.m., and said it had occurred in the previous two hours, police Lt. Neal Griffin said.

The screen of an unlocked window had been cut. Five firearms were among the items stolen, Griffin said.

A citizen reported seeing a bicyclist on East Grand Avenue, near Gayland Street, carrying a rifle and then going inside an apartment. The rifle matched the description of one of the stolen weapons.


Police officers kept the apartment under surveillance and began the process to get a search warrant, which was obtained in the afternoon, Griffin said.

The SWAT team was deployed about 4:30 p.m., police Lt. Greg Kogler said. The suspect refused orders by loudspeaker to come out.

Chemical agents were later used, and the suspect came out about 7:30 p.m. and was taken into custody. He was identified as Johnny James Martinez, 19, of Escondido.

Three of the stolen weapons were found inside the apartment, along with other stolen items, Griffin said.


Martinez was booked into Vista Jail on charges including residential burglary, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest, according to the jail website.