Rape, Robbery Suspect Caught Hiding in Attic

A rape and robbery suspect surrendered to police late Friday after tear gas was fired into his Southeast San Diego home.

Ernesto Ignacio Blanco, 26, a suspect in a July 9 rape, robbery and kidnaping in Lemon Grove, was arrested at 10:15 p.m., three hours after police went to the house in the 3800 block of Superba Street, Sgt. John Ray said.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, a man broke into the home of a nurse and raped her at knifepoint. Then, after loading stereo equipment and other valuables into the woman’s car, the intruder ordered her to drive to an alley off Superba. When the man got out of the car to unload the valuables, the nurse sped off.

When police went to Blanco’s house Friday to arrest him, Blanco started outside but then hurried back inside when he saw the police officers, Ray said.

The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was called when Blanco failed to respond to the pleas of his parole agent, Linda Shutes, who was called to try to talk him into surrendering. SWAT officers fired tear gas into the house at 9:45 p.m.

When the tear gas failed to drive Blanco outside, officers stormed the house. A police dog located Blanco in the attic, and he surrendered without a struggle, police said.

Blanco was booked into County Jail downtown on suspicion of rape, kidnaping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, false imprisonment and resisting arrest.