SWAT Standoff in Pala 

July 19, 2025 – San Diego County Sheriff's Office officials report that a man is in custody after a more than two-hour long standoff in Pala. 

On Friday, July 18, just after 9:00 a.m., deputies from the Valley Center Sheriff's Substation responded to the Pala Mini Mart located in the 11000 block of Pala Road for a reported sighting of a domestic violence suspect.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they located Xavier Hernandez (32), who was involved in a domestic violence incident earlier in the day. He quickly barricaded himself in his vehicle near the gas pumps of the mini mart.

The Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail (SED/SWAT) was called in to support deputies in getting Hernandez to turn himself in peacefully. Just before 11:30 a.m., he surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident. 

Hernandez is facing numerous charges, including domestic violence, kidnapping, delaying a peace officer and robbery. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Office