Long Beach Man Is Held in Slaying of Two : Crime: Suspect’s ex-girlfriend, who had received restraining orders against him, and another woman were shot to death.

A Long Beach man was in custody Saturday for allegedly murdering two women--one of them an ex-girlfriend who had tried to keep him at bay with restraining orders, a new lock on her apartment and a sign on the door warning that the building was under surveillance.

Charles Owens, 33, was arrested at the woman’s apartment after a two-hour standoff with officers that ended after he set a small fire in the unit and surrendered, Long Beach police said.

Trushonda Peterson, 27, and a friend, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, were found shot to death in an upstairs bedroom.

Police records show that Owens, who was being held without bail at Long Beach Jail, was named in at least two temporary restraining orders requested by Peterson, Lt. Steve McAndrew said. As a precaution, Peterson gave a copy of the most recent one, dated Nov. 4, to the real estate company that manages the 50-unit apartment complex in the 3700 block of East Fountain Street.

But officers said that order expired Nov. 24, when the pair were scheduled to meet in Long Beach Superior Court.

At least twice since Peterson moved to the complex in October, neighbors said, Owens allegedly threatened her. In one instance, neighbors said, he kicked in her front door, splintering the wood and ripping the locks from the frame. In the other, the building’s manager said he discovered Owens hiding in a vacant unit next door, which was left open to let shampooed carpets dry.

Owens startled the manager, who turned and ran. But Owens caught him and punched him in the back of the head, said the manager. In both cases, reports were filed with Long Beach police, but authorities could not say what action, if any, had been taken.

“He was obviously trying to get to this gal and that’s all there was to it,” the manager said. “It’s an atrocity. How many of these nuts do we have running on the streets?”

Robert Starr, vice president of the Riedy Co., which manages the Fountain Creek apartments, said that Owens had also called his office three times demanding to be let into Peterson’s apartment.

Peterson, who worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, responded by changing the locks on her door, Starr said. The victim and the property managers also put a hand-lettered sign there warning that her apartment was being watched.

“I don’t know if ‘stalking’ is the perfect word, but he was a real pain in the duff,” Starr said. “He kept calling and I kept saying: ‘I’m not going to let you in, you’re not on the rental agreement.’ ”

On Saturday, neighbors said they were awakened after hearing several people enter the apartment shortly after 4:30 a.m. They said they heard no shouting or indications of a struggle. About an hour later, five gunshots were fired.

Police surrounded the apartment, then contacted Owens by phone when he refused to open the door. He told police that he was armed with a 9-millimeter handgun and an Uzi, authorities said. When SWAT officers surrounded the building, Owens allegedly set a fire.

Police said Owens walked out and surrendered. But neighbors said they saw Owens, apparently overcome by the smoke, dragged from the unit wearing nothing but his underwear. When he came to, neighbors said, it took six officers to restrain him.