SWAT team members took a parolee into custody Thursday after an hours-long standoff in Visalia.
Police say Michael Nash, 35, barricaded himself inside a home off Whitendale and Linwood that he lives in with his girlfriend. It's believed he bound her with duct tape hours earlier, they added. She was eventually able to get away and call for help.
The victim told police she had been arguing with Nash throughout the night, police said. At one point Nash reportedly bound her with duct tape and threatened her life, they added.
"She was somehow able to talk him out of letting her go. And they went into the residence to go to sleep," said Visalia Police Sgt. Amy Watkins.
Police say that's when the victim made her getaway and called for help.
Once officers arrived, they tried to make their way into bedroom where Nash was apparently sleeping with a dog. When he heard what was going on, he barricaded himself inside the room then later crawled out of a window and went into the garage, police said.
"It's always scary when this kind of stuff happens, especially in this kind of neighborhood. You don't expect it in here," said witness Dave Perez.
The SWAT team used tear gas to try to get Nash out and even brought in a robot to try to get a better look at where he was hiding, police said. Once they moved in, they spotted Nash inside a truck in the garage suffering from what was described by police as "medical distress."
"I only knew the family as sincere and calm. So, this really comes as a surprise," said neighbor Ismael Olever through a translator.
Several streets around the police activity were shut down for several hours. One of two nearby schools, Linwood Elementary, was put on lockdown for a very short time, said employees at Visalia Unified.
Nash has an extensive criminal history involving violent acts against officers, police said. Visalia Police have been called out to the home where Thursday's standoff happened several times before for family disturbances, they said. Nash is also on parole for an assault with a deadly weapon in California.
As of early Thursday evening, Nash remained in custody and under the care of Kaweah Delta Medical Center with officers standing by, investigators said. He could face a variety of charges, including: Criminal threats, false imprisonment, domestic battery, and resisting arrest.
Police did recover a weapon from the home, investigators said.
The victim will be okay, investigators said.
