2 Held After Chula Vista Siege

Chula Vista police arrested two brothers Monday after an hours-long standoff during which officers lobbed tear gas canisters into a house and bombarded it with noise from a bullhorn and loudspeaker.

After refusing to leave the house for several hours, one of the two brothers--both self-employed in a rock ‘n’ roll band--surrendered to police Monday morning. About five hours later, officers found the other brother in the attic of the house.

Bill Thomas, 28, and Charles Thomas, 22, were being held Monday night at the County Jail in Chula Vista. Police said they believe one of them fired a gun from the house late Sunday night and wounded Barry J. Samples, 26.

Samples and Fred I. Jewett, another Chula Vista man, had gone to the rear of the house, in the 400 block of Nickman Street, about 11 p.m. Sunday, officers said, intending to steal marijuana plants growing in the yard but were met with three shots from the house, one of which hit Samples in the chest.

After taking to Samples at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Chula Vista early Monday morning, officers arranged for a search warrant for the house.

SWAT team members arrived at the house at 9 a.m. and were told a couple of minutes later by phone that the two men inside did not intend to leave nor to let officers in to search, police said.

For the next couple of hours, officers fired several tear gas canisters into the house, police said. At 11:30 a.m., Charles Thomas left the house and was taken into custody, officers said.

For the next several hours, officers fired aimed a bullhorn and loudspeaker at the house, broadcasting a message to surrender. About 3:45 p.m., officers fired more tear gas and stormed the house, police said.

Twelve minutes later, officers said, they found Bill Thomas in the attic.

Samples underwent surgery and was in UC San Diego Medical Center on Monday night..