Surrender Negotiated
Man suspected of domestic violence arrested Suspect accused of holding victim captive for 3 days
Porterville Police negotiators were able to persuade a man suspected of domestic violence to surrender after three hours of negotiations on Friday afternoon.
Timothy Sanchez, 34 of Porterville, was arrested.
The incident happened in the sub-100 block of East Thurman Avenue. At least three blocks in that area between 2nd and 3rd Streets were blocked off by Porterville Police as they had a heavy presence of armed officers at the scene.
On Friday morning, Porterville Police Officers contacted a confidential victim regarding a report of domestic violence.
The confidential victim reported being in a dating relationship with Sanchez. The confidential victim advised during the early-morning hours of August 23, she was speaking to two friends outside the residence she shares with Sanchez when Sanchez came outside and was highly agitated. The confidential victim reported Sanchez discharged a firearm into the air once, causing her friends to flee, and Sanchez then forced her into their residence.
The confidential victim reported Sanchez held her against her will inside the residence over the next three days. The confidential victim reported during the three-day period, Sanchez threatened her, bound her with restraints, pistol-whipped her, and sexually assaulted her.
The confidential victim said she was able to escape captivity earlier Friday morning and later contacted police. The confidential victim advised Sanchez was currently home and owned firearms.
The confidential victim exhibited visible injuries that were consistent with her statement, Porterville Police stated. Sanchez was also found to be the subject of a felony arrest warrant and a misdemeanor arrest warrant.
Porterville Police Officers responded to Sanchez’s residence, but Officers didn’t receive an answer at the door, even though there were indications Sanchez was inside the residence. Based on the circumstances, the Porterville Police Department SWAT Team and crisis negotiators responded to the scene.
Porterville Police Department crisis negotiators were able to initiate contact with Sanchez by telephone. After nearly three hours of negotiations, Sanchez surrendered without further incident.
Porterville Police Department Detectives assumed the investigation. During execution of a search warrant at the residence, Detectives located evidence relevant to the investigation, including an unloaded firearm and ammunition for the firearm. Sanchez was determined to be a previously convicted felon.
Sanchez was charged with Domestic Violence; False Imprisonment; Kidnapping; Torture; Assault with a Deadly Weapon; Criminal Threats; Brandishing; Prior-convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm; and Prior convicted Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Sanchez was later booked at the South County Detention Facility.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Porterville Police Department, (559) 7827400.