Standoff in El Monte -- students locked down

EL MONTE -- As many as 125 elementary students remained locked down for hours in a elementary school cafeteria while police Friday attempted to coax a robbery suspect from a home in the 4100 block of Gibson Street, authorities said.

Modesto Alcala, 29, is suspected of participating in an armend robbery at a South El Monte motel in late December. Police said the standoff is tied to a similar incident in West covina last week that resulted in the arrest of another suspect in the case.

El Monte police officers, U.S. Marshals, hostage negotiators and a special weapons team have set up a command post at nearby Shirpser Elementary School. About 125 students there have been locked in a cafeteria since 2 p.m., officials said.

"The suspect, Modesto Alcala, we believe is inside the house and has refused to surrender," El Monte police Detective Ralph Batres said. "He is a parolee at large and is considered armed and dangerous."

Alcala had recently moved into the neighborhood and was seen earlier Friday with a handgun, Batres said.

"He's putting a lot of people here at risk," Batres said.