Man turns himself in after firing shots inside home

A man is behind bars after he fired shots inside a home in El Centro.

The El Centro Police Department said on Saturday at 9:07 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 Block of Sandalwood Drive in reference to a report of “shots fired”. The caller informed dispatchers she had been in a verbal argument with Barrett Tanner Trost, a 35-year-old resident of El Centro).

Officers said during the argument Trost threatened to “kill” a member of the family who was present at the residence. Trost was holding a rifle when he made this statement. At one point Trost walked into another room in the residence and fired one round into the ceiling before telling the other occupants of the residence they were all “going to get it.”

Officers arrived and immediately noticed the street was dark and visibility was poor. They were able to see several people run out of the residence and towards them. The occupants confirmed Trost had discharged a firearm and made threats. They stated he owned several firearms and had consumed alcohol throughout the day.

Given the limited number of resources available due to staffing levels, officers on scene requested assistance from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol to establish a perimeter. Off-duty personnel from the K-9 Unit and a certified crisis negotiator were also called to the scene.

Once the perimeter was established, officers began making announcements over the PA requesting Trost to exit the residence. These commands were repeated for approximately an hour. At one point dispatchers were able to contact Trost via cellular telephone.

Trost advised he was not at the residence but was near the area. Trost then disconnected the phone. At 11:02 p.m., Trost entered the lobby at the police department and informed dispatchers he was at the front counter. Officers drove to the station and Trost was peacefully taken into custody. Officers on scene conducted a safety check at the residence in the 500 block of Sandalwood.

They retrieved several firearms and confirmed one had been fired inside the residence. Trost said he had left the residence before officers had completely established a perimeter. He was transported to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office where he was booked for felony threats, brandishing a weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm.