Andrew Monroy, a 59-year-old Goleta Valley man, pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to allegations of elder abuse and other charges after surrendering himself to police Monday night following a standoff at a University Drive home. Monroy was formally arraigned on multiple counts, including two counts of threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, one count of cruelty to an elder/dependent adult, and one count of obstructing or resisting an officer. He also faces a violent felony enhancement.
Superior Court records indicate that these allegations are connected to a Monday incident involving two individuals, one of whom is identified in records as an elder and/or dependent adult. Furthermore, records show Monroy is accused of being armed or having used a weapon during the incident. The District Attorney’s Office plans to introduce evidence of alleged prior acts of elder abuse, according to Superior Court records.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Monroy remained in police custody with bail set at $25,000, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office custody logs. He was initially booked into jail custody on a higher bail amount of $75,000 on suspicion of elder abuse, threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, and obstructing/resisting an officer.
The standoff began after deputies responded to a home on University Drive in the Goleta Valley for a welfare check. The call came in at approximately 3:24 p.m. Monday. The situation quickly escalated, turning into a “barricaded subject with threats,” as stated by Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Raquel Zick.
Sheriff’s deputies established a perimeter, and at about 6:22 p.m., the Santa Barbara County Fire Department joined them, setting up a command post near Fire Station 12. Emergency radio traffic indicated that the suspect, later identified as Monroy, surrendered to police at approximately 7:15 p.m., bringing the incident to a close.
Monroy's arrest log lists his occupation as a physician. However, records show that his medical license was revoked in 2015. The state of California determined that he had been “grossly negligent in the care and treatment of patients” and failed to “maintain adequate and accurate records.”
Monroy is scheduled to return to court on October 22 for a preliminary hearing setting.