Man arrested after SWAT surrounds Indio home

Early Monday morning the Indio Police Department requested help from the Desert Regional SWAT team after a man allegedly threatened the mother of his child with a handgun.

Officers detained the suspect, 31-year-old Jesus Antonio Martinez, at about 6:30 a.m. at a home located in the 45900 block of Queen Palm Lane in Indio, according to police.

The Indio Police Department was originally called to the scene just after midnight when the distraught woman reported a domestic violence incident. When officers arrived, the woman quickly exited the home and Martinez began following her.

Officers said Martinez retreated back into the home after he saw police cars arriving.

The woman told police that their one and a half year old baby was inside the house with Martinez and the suspect threatened her with a gun prior to officers arriving.

The Indio Police Department obtained a search warrant and the SWAT team surrounded the home. According to the release, SWAT members covertly entered the home and rescued the baby, reuniting the child with the mother. The baby was unharmed.

It wasn’t until about 6:30 a.m. that the SWAT team entered the home and detained Martinez. He was taken to the Indio Police Department to be interviewed by detectives. No officers were injured during the altercation but police did find a .22 caliber handgun after searching the home.

After detectives interviewed Martinez, they arrested him on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, domestic battery, and possession of a narcotic for sale, according to police. He was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Indio Police Department at (760) 391-4057.