SWAT Team Called to Remove Barricaded Suspect from San Luis Obispo Hotel Room

DATE OF INCIDENT: Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at about 3:00 pm 
TYPE OF INCIDENT:  Arrest of Barricaded Person After Standoff 
PLACE OF OCCURRENCE: 1100 Block of Garden Street, San Luis Obispo 
SUSPECT: 40-year-old Patricia Castaneda, resident of Grover Beach, CA  

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at about 9:00 am, the San Luis Obispo Police Department received a report from staff at Hotel Cerro, 1125 Garden Street, that a woman, identified as Patricia Castaneda, had stayed the previous night and was refusing to leave.

Castaneda made threats of physical harm to the hotel staff with a knife or gun, and patrol officers responded to assist. The officers arrived and the woman had barricaded herself in the room.

The SLOPD Community Action Team (CAT) responded to assist, but she remained barricaded and uncooperative. A perimeter was established, and all hotel rooms on that floor were evacuated as a precaution. 

The San Luis Obispo Regional SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) were activated and responded to the scene. Investigators from the San Luis Obispo Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Castaneda for Felony Criminal Threats.   

After several hours, the CNT negotiators were able to talk Casteneda into exiting the room and at about 3:00 pm, she was taken into custody without incident. No knives or guns were found. Castaneda was arrested and transported to the San Luis Obispo County Jail for the following charge:  PC 422 – Felony criminal threats, bail set at $50,000 

Thank you to the staff of Hotel Cerro for the help and cooperation during this difficult incident.