A 51-year-old landlord was taken into custody Thursday morning following an hours-long SWAT standoff in San Diego’s Normal Heights neighborhood, where he was accused of striking a tenant in the head with a baseball bat.
The standoff took place inside a home in the 4800 block of 35th Street, where police say Liberty Harp barricaded himself inside following the early morning assault.
San Diego police officers and a SWAT squad surrounded the house for many hours before Harp agreed to surrender peacefully.
Police officers were concerned that Harp would have access to more firearms.
“We were working off an understanding that there may have been a firearm inside the home in previous reports,” Officer Colin Steinbroner said.
Authorities have not confirmed whether a firearm was discovered during the incident.
Police say the tenant sustained a head injury but is expected to recover. Harp was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, among other probable offenses.
Several neighbors expressed relief that the confrontation ended without further violence, noting that they have faced ongoing issues since Harp moved into the neighborhood in April.
“He’s just been loud, obnoxious, and yelling at people and neighbors,” said adjacent resident Myra Lousteau.
Neighbor Omar Bishti reported hearing loud fights and witnessing what appeared to be aggressive activity.
Joe Gambardella, who has owned the property next door since 1970, claims Harp recently inherited it and that things have deteriorated in recent months.
Gambardella stated that plumbing debris from restoration work was left on his driveway, leading longtime residents to vacate. He reportedly claimed Harp informed him he intended to run a halfway home on the site for persons newly released from prison.
Neighbors reported a continual stream of unidentified persons entering and exiting the property and another residence behind it. Several residents reported that community police officers had responded to complaints at the home several times, yet the problems persisted.
“I figured on the fourth one, they’d get him, right? No. Then this morning, my mother wakes me up and says SWAT has arrived, and police are on the roof,” recalled neighbor Valerie Lopez.
Robert Boyce, who described himself as Harp’s friend, claimed Harp had suffered since his father’s death and that this was his second SWAT standoff. Boyce stated that the first occurred in Pacific Beach.
“Ever since his dad passed away, he’s had problems coping with living skills,” Boyce stated.
Bishti expressed hope that the arrest will bring about long-term change in the neighborhood.
“I hope that it stays resolved and that we don’t have to have this whole situation again in two weeks or a month,” he replied.
The investigation is underway. Police have not revealed any additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
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