North County Murder Suspect Arrested Following Daylong Standoff

VISTA, CA — A man was behind bars Thursday on suspicion of killing a woman at a northern San Diego County home this week and then refusing to surrender, prompting a daylong law enforcement standoff.

Malcolm Morey Pope, 26, was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of murder in connection with the alleged homicide in a neighborhood north of state Route 78 and east of Santa Fe Avenue, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. Pope's city of residence was not provided.

The events that led to the discovery of the woman's suspicious death began about 10 a.m. Wednesday, when deputies responded to a request to check on the welfare of a resident in the 700 block of North Citrus Avenue in Vista.

The personnel entered the house and found the victim, whose body bore "obvious signs of trauma," sheriff's Lt. Juan Marquez said. Her name has been withheld pending family notification.

During a subsequent search of the premises, deputies determined that a man, later identified as Pope, was barricaded inside a bedroom, according to Marquez. After the suspect ignored repeated orders to surrender, sheriff's officials called in a SWAT team.

Pope continued refusing to give himself up through the late morning and afternoon. Deputies finally were able to get him into custody in the early evening, sheriff's Lt. Sean Gallagher said. Sheriff's officials declined to specify details about the arrest.

Authorities also would not disclose Pope's relationship to the victim, if any, or reveal any suspected motive for the alleged murder.

"We are not ready to release detailed information as of now," Marquez said Thursday afternoon.
Pope was being held at San Diego Central Jail without bail pending his arraignment in the case, scheduled for Friday.

— City News Service