Family Hostages Rescued From Apartment After Suicidal Standoff

A suicidal man was in hospital Monday after holding family members hostage in a Ramona apartment Sunday night, injuring his throat with a knife and biting a sheriff's sergeant, authorities said.

Deputies were called out to the apartment in the 700 block of A Street around 6:40 p.m. Sunday, according to San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Vengler. The caller said that his 19-year-old nephew, Irvin Moreno, was holding a knife to his own chest and would not let family members leave the apartment, Vengler said in a statement.

Cal Fire ladders were set up to get the hostages out of the second-story apartment. The sergeant said two women and two children, ages 3 and 5, were rescued from the rear of the apartment and the uncle who called 911 was rescued out the front of the apartment. None of them was hurt.

For nearly two hours, authorities worked to coax Moreno out of the apartment until he stabbed himself with an 8-inch knife, and non-lethal measures were used to stop him from hurting himself further, Vengler said.

While deputies and paramedics rendered aid to Moreno, he became combative and bit a sheriff's sergeant, causing an injury, Vengler said.

Moreno was taken to Palomar Medical Center in stable condition. He is expected to recover from his injuries, Vengler said.

--City News Service