5 Held Hostage in Hillcrest Home; 3 Suspects Arrested

Three San Diego men were arrested Saturday in connection with robbery, kidnaping, burglary and other charges after holding five people hostage in a Hillcrest home, authorities said.

Police believe one woman was raped during the incident, which began about 3 a.m., when a 77-year-old woman who lives in the 100 block of Robinson Avenue was awakened by noise in her home. She told police she came downstairs and saw a number of people, some who lived there, some who did not and some with guns.

She went out the back door and called police, who sent a SWAT team to surround the house. Lt. John Welter of the Western Division said three suspects in the house were holding five people hostage and had bound the victims hand and foot.

At 3:45 a.m., 25-year-old Porfirio Trillas walked out of the house with a .25-caliber handgun, apparently unaware that police were outside, and was taken into custody, Welter said.

At 5 a.m., knowing police were outside, a second suspect came out, armed with a .357 Magnum and holding a 16-year-old girl. Police arrested Cain Garcia, 18, at gunpoint without incident, Welter said.

About 50 minutes later, Jose Audelo, 24, came out, apparently giving himself up, Welter said.

The suspects made no demands, and no shots were fired, police said. Welter said the motive was possibly drug related, and police spokesman Bill Robinson said, “It is believed they (the suspects) went to the wrong house.”

Also held hostage were two boys, ages 10 and 11, a male adult about 33, and a 32-year-old woman, who police believe was raped by Audelo. Trillas, of the 100 block of 46th Street, was arrested in connection with robbery, kidnaping, burglary, carrying a concealed gun and carrying a loaded weapon.

Garcia, of the 400 block of North 42nd Street, was arrested in connection with the same charges plus attempted auto theft.

Audelo, of the 1700 block of Iona Drive, was also arrested on the same charges as Trillas plus rape, attempted rape and another sex charge.