Guests staying at local motel turns to tears
Police surrounded the Morgan Hill Inn
South Santa Clara County – Around ten o’clock Tuesday morning, Morgan Hill Inn guests at 16250 Monterey were asked to leave their rooms. Jose Cabrera, who was staying as a guest said, “They told me that somebody had a weapon and then they asked me to leave.”
A crowd of more than 20 people had gathered to watch the police after a more than six hour standoff with a parolee and his girlfriend, who had refused to open the door to police after they noticed a stolen vehicle in the parking lot with stolen license plates. One person said, “It feels like a bunch of isolated incidents happening around here.” Leonard Crocker said, “This is just an example of what goes through here with all the motels around.”
When the suspects refused to leave, the SWAT team was called in
An armored SWAT vehicle was used to help stem off a possible attack from the suspect, 29-year-old Martin Flores from San Jose, who was believed to have a loaded firearm at his disposal. Flores is being charged with suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, and being a felon with a replica firearm, according to Sgt. Troy Hoefling with the Morgan Hill Police Dept.
Martin Flores was arrested after tear gas drew him out of the room
Erica Madriz was also in the room and surrendered with Flores
Morgan Hill Police Officers noticed a Nissan Altima that had two different stolen plates out of San Jose. A request to enter the room where Flores and 29-year-old Erica Madriz of Gilroy were staying ended some time after four p.m. as SWAT fired gas canisters into the second-floor hotel room, driving out the occupants, who had broken into the adjacent room in an attempt to escape capture. Flores and Madriz were given an opportunity to turn themselves in, but had refused to cooperate with officers.
Photos: Amy Nilson, Morgan Hill PD
Read More:
Gilroy Patch: Male Parolee and Woman Arrested after Holing up in Morgan Hill Inn
Mercury News: Morgan Hill: Standoff at motel ends; suspect and woman in custody
KTVU.com: SWAT uses tear gas to end standoff at Morgan Hill
