A weekend scare at a La Mesa apartment complex ended with a man in handcuffs and an 11-year-old cleared from the hospital, after police say he swung a knife at the child inside an apartment and then threatened officers from a balcony. Neighbors were evacuated during a multi-hour standoff while negotiators and a special response team worked to calm things down. Officers say the suspect eventually surrendered without further incident. The child did not suffer major injuries and was evaluated at Rady Children's Hospital before being released to a family member. Authorities identified the suspect as 34-year-old Peter DePrince, who is now in custody.
Police response and arrest
La Mesa officers were called to an apartment complex off Comanche Drive after reports of a man armed with a knife. Police evacuated surrounding units as they tried to talk the man out, bringing in the La Mesa Police Special Response Team along with the San Diego Sheriff's Emergency Negotiations Team to assist.
According to 10News, the suspect stayed inside for roughly three hours after the initial call before coming out of the unit unarmed. Officers arrested DePrince on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony child endangerment.
How negotiators and SRT handle barricade calls
Special Response Teams and emergency negotiators are trained to step into exactly this kind of barricaded-subject situation, working to slow everything down and keep it from getting worse. Their job is to establish lines of communication, protect bystanders and officers, and look for any way to resolve the incident without force.
Those teams rely on communication strategies and tactical support to minimize risk and restore safety to the area, according to the Escondido Police Department. The goal in these responses is straightforward: get a suspect to surrender peacefully and reduce the chance of injury to residents and first responders.
Victim status and witnesses
The 11-year-old was transported to Rady Children's Hospital for evaluation and was not found to have major injuries, then released into the care of a local family member. According to 10News, an adult female witness and the child told officers they saw the suspect arming himself before they left the unit. Nearby residents were evacuated during the response while officers secured the scene and negotiators worked to bring the situation under control. La Mesa police say they are continuing to investigate and collect witness statements.
Charges and legal next steps
La Mesa Police booked DePrince on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony child endangerment. If prosecutors decide to file the case as felonies, both counts can carry significant prison time under California law. Assault with a deadly weapon is a “wobbler,” meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, and felony child endangerment can carry two, four or six years in state prison depending on the risk to the child, as outlined by EG Attorneys. Anyone arrested in the case is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What residents should know
La Mesa police say their investigation is ongoing and that detectives will continue reviewing witness statements and any available evidence from the scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact the La Mesa Police Department; the city's public safety pages list department contact details and updates. Residents can also sign up for Nixle alerts through the City of La Mesa to receive official notifications about public safety incidents in their neighborhoods.
