Man arrested following standoff in Encinitas

A man firing a pellet gun prompted a roughly hour-long standoff July 13 at a home in the 100 block of Requeza Street.

Eventually, the pellet gun was recovered, one man was arrested and five were issued citations, according to Sheriff’s Sgt. Pam Wotkyns.

Sheriff’s personnel responded to numerous calls from neighbors of shots fired from a pellet gun at about 8:21 a.m. outside a Requeza Street home.

Law enforcement then set up a perimeter around the house and made contact.

Of the eight people in the house, two were immediately cooperative and came outside. The other six refused, Wotkyns said.

Among them was Douglas McKay, who resides at the home and is suspected of firing the pellet gun into the air before the standoff, according to Wotkyns. McKay allegedly yelled out several times during the incident that additional weapons were inside.

“Threats and all kinds of things were being said to us, which led us to believe maybe someone was injured inside or other firearms that could potentially be used,” Wotkyns said.

About an hour into the standoff, McKay allegedly tried to hop a fence to escape. He was quickly detained and the remaining occupants came out not long after, Wotkyns said.

Five of the people in the home were issued citations for delaying or resisting arrest and then released.

McKay was arrested on suspicion of discharging a replica firearm, according to Sheriff’s Lt. Clayton Lisk.

There were no reports of injuries. Wotkyns said it’s believed alcohol was a factor in the incident.

The incident was still under investigation as of July 15.

Two hours after the standoff ended, one neighbor, who did not wish to be identified, said the gunshots were startling. A helicopter circling the area during the standoff made the situation even scarier, the neighbor added.

This article was updated July 15 to reflect the latest information.