Mother of Nipomo standoff suspect speaks about son’s mental health

Eleanor Griswold surveyed the damage of her mobile home where her 47-year-old son Jason Macias lived with his wife and two children.

It’s where Macias barricaded himself after San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of domestic violence at the home on Mercury Court in the Galaxy Mobile Home Park in Nipomo Thursday just after 2 p.m.

“That wasn’t right of my son”, Griswold said Friday afternoon, “but its like he’s not under control when whatever it is that overcomes him. He’s like a madman.”

The Sheriff’s Department says it called in its Special Enforcement Detail, or SWAT unit, and closed down the streets around the home Thursday afternoon after Macias brandished a knife and threatened to kill deputies if they tried to arrest him by force.

“We’re taking an abundance of precaution and making sure that we’re able to try and resolve this as peacefully as possible”, said County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Tony Ciopolla at the scene of the standoff Thursday night.

Eleanor Griswold said her son has struggled with physical and mental health issues that have left him unable to work and in need of professional help

“But there’s been no one to help Jason,” Griswold said, “what he needs, and I’m hoping he gets, is in-house treatment, proper diagnosis and then proper medication.”

After hours of trying to convince Macias to surrender peacefully, including pleading with him by loudspeaker in the street, SWAT deputies stormed the house after 1 a.m. Friday morning and forcibly arrested Macias.

The Sheriff’s Department said Macias was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained during the ordeal.

Eleanor Griswold says she’s grateful her son is alive and hope he gets the mental health treatment he needs.

“I do want to thank all of the police because they did a wonderful job”, Griswold said, “I know how dangerous their work is and I’m grateful that nobody got hurt.”

Jason Macias is in San Luis Obispo County Jail custody with his bail set at $65,000.

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A standoff between a Nipomo man barricaded inside a home and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department SWAT unit lasted several hours Thursday afternoon.

The suspect was identified by authorities as 47-year-old Jason Thermann Macias.

The Sheriff’s Department says it received a call just after 2:00 pm of a case of domestic violence between a man, believed to be Macias, and a woman inside a home on Mercury Court in the Galaxy Mobile Home community along Division Street in Nipomo.

“Deputies arrived, the victim was outside, the suspect went back inside the house”, said Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Tony Ciopolla at the scene Thursday night.

Most of Mercury Drive was closed to traffic with the media and curious onlookers kept at a considerable distance away as the Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Detail, or SWAT, was called in after Macias allegedly threatened to kill deputies on scene.

The Sheriff’s Department says its negotiators were in direct contact with Macias via cell phone.

“We don’t believe there are weapons involved”, Ciopolla said based on statements from the alleged victim and other witnesses, “we are taking an abundance of precaution making sure we are able to try and resolve this as peacefully as possible.

The hours-long standoff kept neighbors and other onlookers in the street for hours as well waiting to see how it would all unfold as Sheriff’s Department negotiators used a loudspeaker to try and convince Macias to give himself up peacefully.

“They don’t know what they’re getting into and I’m sure they want not to have anything do down that doesn’t have to happen”, said local resident Gary Olson who stood with his dog and others for hours on Mercury Drive.

“I think they are handling it the safest way for the safety of the suspect and everybody else concerned in the neighborhood”, added Mercury Drive neighbor Lacey Katwrynuk, “this is like the craziest thing I think I’ve seen in this neighborhood, I think ever.”

The Sheriff’s Department says the unidentified woman involved in this alleged domestic violence case was treated at a local hospital for unknown injuries and released.

Law enforcement were able to end the standoff at 1:15 a.m. Friday, when they made entry into the home and took Macias into custody.

Macias was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries he received during the incident.

He’s facing charges of domestic violence, felony attempting to escape with force and other possible charges.