Responding to a call about a suspicious man, a Morgan Hill
Police SWAT team and state parole agents on Tuesday arrested a
wanted felon who was on parole.
Responding to a call about a suspicious man, a Morgan Hill Police SWAT team and state parole agents on Tuesday arrested a wanted felon who was on parole.
Miguel Salinas, 28, of Hollister, was taken to Santa Clara County Jail on a no-bail warrant for assault with a deadly weapon and prior gang enhancements.
The incident began at about 9am Tuesday when a resident of an apartment complex at 15295 La Alameda reported to MHPD he had seen a man in the parking lot with a semiautomatic handgun in the trunk of his vehicle. The resident told police he believed the man was possibly visiting a female resident of the complex.
Officers responded to the complex and located the vehicle allegedly containing the gun. Learning that Salinas had the warrant and the prior charge, officers attempted to phone the woman later identified as Jaymie Gamino, 23, of Morgan Hill.
When officers could not contact Gamino, the SWAT and state officers were called to the complex. Approximately 10 nearby residents were asked to evacuate their homes until the situation was under control four hours later at about 1pm.
Over an hour’s period a hostage negotiator attempted to talk with Salinas, but no one was answering the phone inside the apartment.
The SWAT team then entered the apartment and found Salinas in the attic of an adjacent apartment. After he was subdued with a Taser, he was taken into custody. He was then checked at a hospital according to MHPD procedure, said Lt. Terrie Booten.
Gamino was arrested for harboring a felon.
No weapon was located.
MHPD Lt. Joe Sampson said Wednesday said Salinas was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, and the no-bail warrant was issued for his arrest because he was in some way violating the conditions of his parole.
“If, for example, he’s on parole for burglary, we’re not as concerned about what he’s doing at the apartment complex as if he’s on parole for assault with a deadly weapon,” Sampson said Wednesday in explaining why the SWAT team was called out. “That speaks to the level of violence he is perhaps willing to commit.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at mdubil@morga nhilltimes.com or phoning (408)779-4106 Ext. 202.
