LA MESA, Calif. — La Mesa police were involved in a standoff near the Best Western Plus located at 9550 Murray Drive in La Mesa on Monday morning.
At approximately 10:15 a.m., members of the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force and El Cajon Police Department observed a wanted suspect in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Best Western, according to a release by the La Mesa Police Department.
The suspect was identified as 42-year-old George Louis Garcia. Garcia who is currently on parole, was wanted after he fled the scene of a homicide on Aug. 18 where 21-year-old Fabian Esteban Cerda of San Diego was shot several times and died.
La Mesa police conducted a felony stop on the suspect in the vehicle where Garcia was initially uncooperative and non-compliant with officers. The La Mesa Police Special Response Team and El Cajon Police Crisis Negotiations Team arrived to assist LMPD.
Negotiators were able to de-escalate the situation and Garcia surrendered two guns out of the car. It is unknown at this time if either weapon was used in the Aug. 18 homicide.
After further negotiations, Garcia agreed to surrender and Garcia was taken into custody without further incident.
Police had temporarily blocked off streets near the hotel and asked the public to avoid the area.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619)579-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or online at the Crime Stoppers website.
