A Santee business owner was arrested April 11 after deputies responded to reports of possible gunfire near North Magnolia Avenue and found evidence of shots fired at his business suite, according to East County News Service and the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were called around 12:33 a.m. and saw Robert Sanford, 45, enter his business at 10744 Rockville St., Suite 104. Authorities said deputies believed he was holding a handgun and tried to contact him by phone, but he would not come out to speak with them.

Investigators later found possible bullet holes in a parking sign in front of the suite, with a church about 100 yards behind it. Around 7:16 a.m., deputies returned and said they found evidence that Sanford had a handgun and had threatened to shoot deputies if they entered the business.

A judge approved a search warrant for the suite around 10:06 a.m., and the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail, or SWAT team, helped serve it. Detectives said they recovered a 9 millimeter handgun and multiple 9mm shell casings. Sanford was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm and threats against peace officers.