Felony suspect arrested after hours-long East County standoff

A man being sought on a felony warrant was in custody Friday after an hours-long standoff in unincorporated El Cajon. 

Joseph Gonsalves, 49, had an outstanding warrant linked to felony domestic violence, according to a news release from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives from the Alpine Sheriff’s Station also wanted to speak to him regarding a separate ongoing investigation.

At around noon Thursday, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force located Gonsalves at a home in the 900 block of Silverbrook Drive near Harbison Canyon.

The task force coordinated with Sheriff’s detectives in obtaining a search warrant for the home. Due to the high-risk nature of the situation, the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED/SWAT) was called in to serve the paperwork.

SED/SWAT deputies attempted to contact Gonsalves just before 6 p.m. He ignored all commands to surrender and then barricaded himself inside the home along with a woman. Both Gonsalves and the woman remained in the house for hours and refused to speak with deputies.

Gonsalves yelled several threats from the home, including a pledge to kill deputies if they entered. 

Not knowing if the woman was being held against her will, deputies attempted to send a drone inside the home. Gonsalves, though, attacked the drone, officials said, and rendered it inoperable.

Deputies introduced chemical agents inside the home in order to get Gonsalves and the woman to leave. Eventually, the woman exited. 

After speaking with deputies, it was determined she was not being held against her will and was not the victim of a crime. She was treated for chemical exposure at the scene and released. 

Gonsalves continued to refuse to leave. Several more attempts were made to de-escalate the situation and persuade Gonsalves exit the home peacefully. 

Around midnight, SED/SWAT deputies, along with a Sheriff’s K-9, made their way into the home and successfully took Gonsalves into custody.

No deputies were hurt. Gonsalves was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries sustained during the standoff. 

Gonsalves was charged with felony domestic violence, criminal threats toward a public officer and felony vandalism. Further charges may be added once the investigation is complete.