Shovel-wielding suspect surrenders in attic

A 23-year-old Ramona man, accused of using a shovel to damage six vehicles and strike several people Friday afternoon was arrested after he was found in the attic of a house on 16th Street, surrendering only after he was bitten by a sheriff’s dog, Lt. James Bovet with the sheriff’s Ramona station reports.

The incident began when a call came about 3:30 p.m. of a man wielding a shovel and damaging vehicles at Raymond Avenue and Ramona Street.

“The report was this guy was acting crazy,” said Bovet. “There was enough damage to vehicles to make it felony vandalism.”

The suspect, Daniel Ponce, fled the scene, and deputies tracked him to a house in the 600 block of 16th Street, said Bovet. After searching the house with the canine unit, deputies found the suspect hiding in the attic, said the lieutenant.

Bovet said the suspect would not respond to demands to come down, so a dog was sent into the attic. After the dog had bitten the suspect several times, he surrendered and was taken into custody.

Among those injured in the incident were two sheriff’s officers and a 19-year-old male, according to the report. All injuries were minor.

In addition to felony vandalism, Ponce was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and obstructing/resisting an executive officer with minor injury, both felonies. He was booked into Vista Detention Facility and is also suspected of a felony burglary charge.

According to the sheriff’s website, he was scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in El Cajon on Oct. 2.