A San Luis Obispo man wanted on several charges, barricaded himself in his home and refused to come out for two hours before the County and Regional SWAT Teams forced his surrender and then reportedly discovered homemade bombs inside the home.
According to a news release from Sheriff’s spokesman, Tony Cipolla, at 5 a.m. Friday, June 5, the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED) served a felony arrest warrant at a home in the 4700 block of Los Osos Valley Road, that’s a rural area a short distance west of Foothill Boulevard-LOVR intersection.
The wanted man was identified as Benjamin Reynoso, 43 who was wanted for suspicion of felony vandalism, violating a domestic violence restraining order and obstruction of justice, Cipolla said. These charges stemmed from a prior incident the week before, Cipolla added. He’d also reportedly threatened law enforcement.
“Reynoso,” Cipolla said, “also made prior statements threatening law enforcement as well as residents in the area.”
When officers arrived, Reynoso refused to come out of the house, “despite numerous announcements,” Cipolla said. He added that no one else was inside the home at the time.
The Sheriff’s Negotiation Team tried to contact him and talk him out but Reynoso refused to come out and allegedly made new threats to Sheriff’s officers on scene. They tried several persuasive methods to get him to surrender.
“Several methods including chemical agents were used to get Reynoso out of the home,” Cipolla said. The stalemate lasted about two hours and Reynoso finally surrendered without further incident. When they searched the home, they discovered items that will add further charges to his future woes.
“During a search of his home,” Cipolla said, “Detectives discovered several homemade incendiary devices.”
The SED got an assist from the Regional SWAT Team when they brought in their specialized vehicle “to help in the apprehension of Reynoso,” Cipolla said.
The Regional SWAT Team is manned by officers from the various incorporated city police departments in the County and is separate from the Sheriff’s SWAT Team (the SED).
