A suspected illegal immigrant is being held on battery charges in Fort Smith. Johnny Julio Monterroza, 21, was taken into custody Thursday after a six-hour standoff with a SWAT team.
Monterroza is charged with residential burglary, felony terroristic threatening and domestic battery stemming from an incident on May 22. He is currently being held at the Sebastian County Detention Center under an immigration hold which carries no bond.
According to police, Monterroza broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home located in the 2600 block of N. 37th and attacked her when she returned home from taking her mother to work early Tuesday morning. The victim told police Monterroza had been hiding in her closet.
The victim said he threatened to stab her, burn down the home and flee the country with their infant child. The 19-year-old woman was able to escape with her child while Monterroza was allegedly cleaning a knife with running alcohol in the bathroom.
Monterroza left in the victim’s car, which was later found at his sister’s house.
Over the next few days, police say Monterroza continued calling the mother of his child in an attempt to arrange a meeting. On Thursday officers tracked Monterroza to his mother’s home at Howell Avenue and 46th Street and executed a search and arrest warrant.
Det. Adam Creek said officers used teargas to try to force Monterroza from the home, and eventually a family member coaxed him by phone to surrender. No one was injured.
Police negotiated with the man from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
