The fugitive hides in Hearst Castle.Tourists evacuate to designated places

Casa del Mar, Hearst Castle

A man fleeing a sheriff’s deputy breaks through the gates of Castle Hearst, trapping him in a luxurious guest house and forcing tourists to take refuge there.

Sunday’s stalemate ended after a park police officer and his dog tracked down an intruder at Casa del Mar, according to a state park supervisor.

The 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, accepting stolen property, vandalizing property, disobeying a sheriff and resisting arrest, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. After being treated for dog bites, he was held in county jail on $25,000 bail.

The chaotic incident began around 9:00 am at a municipal utility yard in Cumbria. The man was reportedly vandalizing vehicles and other property in the Cumbria Community Services District. When he was confronted by his employees, the vandal brandished a machete and took off in one of the district trucks that had a trailer.

After a 911 call was made to police, the stolen vehicle was pursued by a sheriff’s deputy, California Highway Patrol officers, and a park ranger. On Route 101 he headed north for eight miles, the truck drove through the Castle Visitor Center entrance gate and through another gate up the hill. The driver left the damaged vehicle and entered Casa del Mar (also known as House A).

Tours of the castle were abruptly halted and visitors were told to evacuate until they could safely return to the parking lot.

When the intruder refused to leave the guesthouse, police officers broke in and subdued him.

State park manager Dan Farratt said: told the tribune that there was no apparent damage to the Casa del Mar or its relics; Tours resumed on Monday in all areas except that guest house.

Casa del Mar is one of the stops on the Cottage & Kitchen tour of the park. Built in the early 1920s, this three-story, eight-bedroom building was the residence of William Randolph, his Hearst, and his family while waiting for the Casa Grande to be completed.