Suicidal Man Arrested after Standoff

A suicidal Santa Maria man is in jail after he allegedly violated a restraining order, then barricaded himself with a loaded shotgun in a Carpinteria motel room.

Taidje Robinson, 30, had called and emailed a “female associate” in violation of a restraining order against him, said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kelly Hoover. Robinson said he had a gun and wanted to kill himself. He was out on bail for a previous domestic violence incident involving the same victim.

Sheriff’s deputies located Robinson in the Motel 6 in the 4200 block of Via Real at around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday morning, but as they approached, Robinson spotted the deputies and he retreated into his room. He locked himself inside and refused to come out, Hoover said. Personnel with the department’s Special Enforcement Team and Hostage Negotiation Team responded to the scene and spoke to Robinson by phone.

After an hour of negotiation, he surrendered without incident. A recently purchased, loaded shotgun was recovered in his motel room, Hoover said. Motel guests and neighboring businesses were advised to evacuate or shelter in place during the incident, Hoover explained, and the California Highway Patrol closed Via Real for several blocks.

Robinson was booked in jail on charges of receiving a firearm in violation of a criminal protective order, committing a felony while out on bail for a felony, violating a domestic violence restraining order, and resisting with criminal threats.