Man Arrested After Standoff With Police

A Ventura man who engaged in a five-hour standoff with police has been jailed on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman and then chasing her with a kitchen knife, authorities said Wednesday.

Allen R. Garcia, 37, remained in custody Wednesday night in lieu of $50,000 bail. He was arrested Tuesday shortly before midnight, Ventura Police Sgt. George Morris said.

The victim, a Santa Barbara woman, told police she had met Garcia several weeks ago and went to visit him at his 209 Echo Court home about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

After the alleged assault, the woman called her mother for help, officers said. During that call and a separate 911 call, Garcia hung up the phone, officers said.

The victim’s mother called back the Garcia home and reached her daughter, but the conversation ended when Garcia allegedly came at the victim with a large kitchen knife, police said. The victim then was able to run to a neighbor for help.

When officers arrived, Garcia turned off the lights inside his house and refused to come out. A SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called and when Garcia did emerge, he was holding a knife to his own throat, Morris said.

SWAT team members fired several times at Garcia with nonlethal bullets. He was treated at Ventura County Medical Center for minor abdominal injuries before being booked into jail.