Alleged domestic violence leads to SWAT action

Police officers responded to a home at 724 Wrelton Drive, near Pernicano’s Italian Restaurant on Turquoise Street in Pacific Beach, on Saturday morning, May 31, in response to a radio call of a possible male suspect wanted by police at that location for an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend the night before, May 30.

SWAT officers and members of the Emergency Negotiation Team responded. Police negotiated for several hours with the male suspect, who barricaded himself in the house after officers responded and indicated to them he was armed. The suspect did not surrender until 10:40 p.m.

Monica Munoz, public information officer for the San Diego Police Department, identified the suspect as Walter Cordell, 52. “He was wanted for domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon,” said Munoz. “Officers arrived at 10 a.m. and tried to talk to him (suspect), but he refused to come outside.”

Munoz said the SWAT team was then called in at 11:30 a.m. “We used tear gas to try and get him to come out,” Munoz said. “Negotiators were talking with him all day. Some residents in the neighborhood were asked to evacuate their houses.”

Munoz said the unidentified female victim in the alleged domestic violence was taken to the hosital for treatment of serious injuries. “She had some broken bones and a head injury,” Munoz said.

The incident occurred in a largely commercial zone. A taco shop and other businesses near the incident were shut down for several hours. Turquoise Street between La Jolla Boulevard and Mission Boulevard was also closed by police to through traffic. An alleyway in the area was also roped off by police.