A Normal Heights landlord was taken into custody this morning after allegedly smashing a tenant with a baseball bat, according to San Diego police. The tenant was rushed to a hospital, and officers shut down part of 35th Street while they locked down the scene.
What the police say
San Diego Police Sgt. Colin Steinbroner told NBC 7 San Diego that the confrontation started as a landlord-tenant argument, which then led to the landlord hitting the tenant with a baseball bat. The call came in around 6:30 a.m. from the 4800 block of 35th Street, between Copley and Collier avenues, police said.
Standoffs in the neighborhood
Normal Heights has seen several tense police operations in recent months, including a December barricade that ended in a police shooting and a separate SWAT raid that uncovered dozens of firearms and narcotics. Local outlets have chronicled those incidents and highlighted why officers treat barricade situations as high risk, including coverage by the Times of San Diego and KGTV.
Legal limits for landlords
California law bars landlords from using force or other self-help tactics to push tenants out. California Civil Code §789.3 makes it unlawful for a landlord to willfully block a tenant’s access or cut off utilities to force a move, and it allows tenants to pursue damages, statutory penalties and attorney fees.
Investigation underway
Police say the suspect barricaded himself inside the home after the alleged assault and surrendered after a couple of hours. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment. San Diego police are still investigating the case and have not released the suspect's name or clarified what charges he may face, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
