Neighbors react after SWAT standoff near Desert Hot Springs

2:50 a.m. update: The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s SWAT team captured the suspect wanted for assault with a deadly weapon.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect, 37 year old Jose Castillo, ran from the residence in the 13-100 block of United Road, located in the unincorporated area of Desert Hot Springs.

Castillo was captured by SWAT Team members and released to the custody of U.S. Marshals for booking.

He was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, narcotics violations, possession of a stolen vehicle and evading arrest with a total bail amount of $1 million.

We talked to neighbors who lived next to the home where Castillo was barricaded.

“I would rather him be off the streets then endangering my daughters when my husband is gone,” said Sherry Johnson. She raises two girls in the house next door. Sheriff’s deputies asked her family to leave during the standoff.

KESQ reached out to Castillo family and talked with his mother over the phone. According to her, Jose Castillo, who also went by Manuel, was a firefighter with the US Forest Service. He turned to drugs after he saw his friends die fighting the Esperanza Fire in 2006.

Now the home Jose Castillo was hunkered down in is wrecked. Windows smashed in, the gate flattened to the ground, and then there’s the smell of tear gas.

The owners of the home live in Newport Beach and rent out the house, but neighbors tell me the house was empty until last week. They never met who moved in.

“I feel bad for them, it’s there vacation home and that’s how they earn part of there income, it’s probably going to cost them more just to sell it,” said Johnson.

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9:30 p.m. update: Our crew reports hearing flash bangs as authorities try to end a stand-off.

U.S. Marshals tried to serve an arrest warrant tonight for a suspect accused of assault with a deadly weapon.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is surrounding a home near Desert Hot Springs Monday night looking for an assault suspect.

A S.W.A.T. team is on scene in a neighborhood in the area of 13th Avenue and Little Morongo Road.

People are advised to stay out of that area.

Sheriff’s Department spokesman Armando Munoz says the man is considered armed and dangerous.

News Channel 3/CBS Local 2 has a crew headed to the scene and will bring you updates as they become available on the air and on-line.