San Gabriel High Lockdown Over; Armed Fugitive Nabbed

SAN GABRIEL, CA -- Authorities on Tuesday arrested a fugitive who was hiding on the campus of San Gabriel High School, which had been locked down along with other area campuses while officers looked for him.

Benedict Romero was taken into custody shortly before 1 p.m. and the lockdowns were lifted a short time later, Alhambra police Sgt. Steven Carr said.

San Gabriel High School, Martha Baldwin Elementary School, Granada Elementary School, and Emmaus Lutheran were locked down late Tuesday morning as a precaution while searchers, including members of a state fugitive task force, looked for Romero, Carr said.

He fled as special agents from the state attempted to contact him in the area of Mission Road and Almansor Street, Carr said.

Romero was believed to have left a court-ordered Alternative Custody Program in El Monte on Friday, Carr said. He had been in custody for vehicle theft.

He was arrested on the north athletic field at San Gabriel High School, Carr said.

"Romero was hiding and had no contact with faculty/students prior to his arrest," Carr said.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock