Man Arrested After Santee Hostage Standoff

SANTEE, CA - A 29-year-old felony assault suspect was in custody today accused of attacking a Santee woman and holding her hostage in her residence, authorities said.

Police were called to 9061 Calle Del Verde at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, said San Diego sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Morsch.

"The report indicated a male had assaulted a female and was not allowing the female to leave the residence," Morsch said. "The male was reported to possibly be a gang member and might be in possession of a handgun."

Deputies from the Santee and Lakeside stations set up a perimeter around the residence and evacuated neighboring residents for their safety, he said.

"Deputies developed a rapport with the suspect and were able to convince him to exit the residence after about 30 minutes," Morsch said. He was taken into custody without incident. Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes.

The victim was evaluated for injuries at the scene and medical treatment was not needed, he said. The woman told deputies she had been assaulted twice during the day, the first in a car and the second when he forced his way into her residence.

The suspect was identified as Kenneth Jerome Ryan Jr., authorities said.

Sheriff's inmate records indicate Ryan was arrested for suspicion of burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment with violence and assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm. He is being held on an outstanding out-of-county warrant for robbery.

--City News Service