Man accused of barricading himself accepts plea deal

The Hollister man suspected of barricading himself in a home while having 11 outstanding warrants has accepted a plea deal for jail time.
Francisco Zendejas, 42, was arrested May 23 when police found him hiding in a crawl space of a home in the 300 block of Paul Drive. He had 11 warrants and had refused to answer the door during a police surveillance situation.
Zendejas accepted the plea deal and was sentenced Oct. 10 to 114 days in jail and three years of probation. He was also fined $220.
According to the Hollister Police Department statement released after his arrest:
For several years, the police department has been fielding complaints from residents in Zendejas’ neighborhood about Zendejas causing disturbances in the area. Zendejas’ neighbors have sought and obtained restraining orders against Zendejas, which prohibited him from being at the residence. Zendejas was known to scream at neighbors, drive recklessly in the neighborhood, and abuse the 911 system. Zendejas had eleven warrants for his arrest issued in San Benito County Superior Court.
More recently, the City of Hollister filed a lawsuit against Zendejas. A San Benito County Superior Court Judge issued an additional restraining order against Zendejas and fined his parents for allowing him at the property.
At about 4 p.m. May 23, a Hollister police detective was conducting surveillance in the area of Zendejas’ house, hoping to spot Zendejas leaving so he could be arrested. About that time, Zendejas called 911, and the fire department was summoned to the scene to investigate a suspicious smell at the residence. The police detective was able to confirm that Zendejas was in the home.
Additional police units responded the scene and surrounded the house, preventing Zendejas from leaving. A search warrant was sought and obtained to enter the residence and enforce Zendejas. At 5:15 p.m., police officers entered the residence and found Zendejas hiding deep within a crawl space inside a closet of the structure. Zendejas was arrested without incident.
Zendejas was transported to the San Benito County Jail where he was booked on the 11 outstanding warrants, as well as fresh charges for violating the restraining orders issued against him, and resisting arrest.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Bo Leland at the Hollister Police Department at (831) 638-4115. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.