Fugitive in custody after standoff in Imperial Beach

Fugitive Ramiro Espinoza, sought on a one-million-dollar warrant for attempted murder, was arrested by sheriff’s SWAT officers early on Friday, July 26, after a seven-hour standoff in Imperial Beach.

Twenty-two homes on Elkwood Avenue were evacuated after a deputy fired a shot at Espinoza as he jumped over a backyard fence and evaded capture.

The sheriff’s fugitive task force had gone to Imperial Beach at about 5 p.m. Thursday to arrest Espinoza, who was wanted on numerous charges, including attempted murder, according to sheriff’s spokesperson Jan Caldwell.

When deputies arrived, according to Caldwell, Espinoza fled out a back door and then jumped over fences. As they pursued him, one deputy fired his gun. The sheriff’s helicopter flying over the scene warned residents to stay inside and issued a direct message to the fleeing felon: "Ramiro Espinoza, why are you running? We're going to catch you anyway.”

Sheriff’s SWAT team members, SDPD, and CHP officers searched the neighborhood and discovered Espinoza barricaded in a vacant home on Elkwood Avenue.

Shortly after 1:00 a.m., SWAT officers fired multiple flash-bang grenades into the home and quickly took Espinoza into custody.

During the initial confrontation, witnesses claimed to have heard multiple shots fired and Caldwell told reporters that some of those shots were fired by someone other than law enforcement, but they were unsure who fired them.