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Update: Police release photo of suspect arrested in SWAT team raid 

Lauro Valenzuela

Lauro Valenzuela. Image from Paso Robles Police Department.

–The Paso Robles Police Department on Thursday released a photo of the man arrested this week in a SWAT team raid. Police arrested Lauro Valenzuela, 36, and labeled him a “person of interest” in a shooting incident in Paso Robles.

Police investigating a recent assault with a deadly weapon serve felony warrant

–At about midnight early Wednesday morning, local authorities surrounded a home in the 2300 block of Winter Wheat Place in Paso Robles. They served a search warrant and arrested Lauro Robert Valenzuela, 36, on a felony probation warrant.

Valenzuela is a person of interest in the shooting at the 1100 block of Alamo Creek that occurred the previous evening, police say.

paso robles swat team raid

Two armored police vehicles were seen on Winter Wheat Place in Paso Robles early Wednesday morning. Photo by Jason Brock.

Late Tuesday night, Paso Robles Police officers, San Luis Obispo Regional SWAT team, San Luis Obispo County SED team, San Luis Obispo Gang Task Force, San Luis Obispo Probation, and San Luis Obispo D.A.’s office began staging for the incident a few blocks away at a command post at the end of Meadowlark Road in Paso Robles. Over two dozen officers were present for the raid.

The regional SWAT team included two armored BearCat vehicles, aerial drones, a K9 dog unit, and a mid-sized robot with tank treads and a moveable arm.

After making an arrest, investigators were brought to the home for an evidence search.

Police stage at a command cente

Police stage at a command center a few blocks away on Meadowlark Road. Photo by Jason Brock

At 4:06 a.m. on Wednesday, Paso Robles Police officers booked Lauro Robert Valenzuela, 36, into San Luis Obispo County Jail. Valenzuela was booked on felony charges of Penal Code 853.8, failure to appear in court.

In 2012, Valenzuela was arrested for a probation violation. He was arrested while authorities were investigating a shooting that occurred July 27, 2012, in the 3300 block of Spring Street. The SLO County Sheriff’s Office identified him as a Norteno gang member living in the city of Paso Robles.

In 2017, Valenzuela was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing a loaded firearm and a controlled substance.

A new court date was set for Nov. 20, 2020, according to the jail’s records.

Police say this is an ongoing investigation and ask anyone with information about this case to call the Paso Robles Police Department at (805) 237-6464 and ask for Det. Bryce Lickness. Persons wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers’ 24-hour hotline at 549-STOP or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).

Editor’s note: This story, “SWAT team surrounds house, makes overnight arrest in Paso Robles” was updated at 12:25 p.m. Wednesday with additional information from police. The story was updated again on Nov. 19 to include newly released police mugshot.

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The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.