SAN MARCOS : SWAT Team Rousts Man After 9 Hours

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies, responding to a call of a family disturbance, arrested a 36-year-old San Marcos man after he kept a SWAT team at bay for more than nine hours Saturday.

The suspect, identified by the Sheriff’s Department as Heinz Houben, of the 1100 block of Montura Road, was arrested on suspicion of assault and felony battery, said Deputy Victoria Reden.

The incident began about 1:45 a.m. Saturday when deputies received a 911 call about a family disturbance, only to find the house full of smoke when they arrived at the scene, Reden said.

By that time, two women already had escaped, leaving Houben inside by himself, Reden said.

Houben told deputies he was armed, and efforts by deputies and the department’s hostage negotiations team to talk him out were unsuccessful.

The SWAT team shot tear gas into the residence about 8:30 a.m., and still Houben didn’t come out, Reden said. Finally, at noon, officers fired both tear gas and concussion devices into the home, then stormed the residence.

Houben was arrested without incident and several weapons were found inside, Reden said.

Cause of the initial smoke, she said, was a flare that was discharged for unknown reasons at the onset of the family disturbance.