Westminster police arrested a 37-year-old domestic violence suspect over the weekend after he allegedly fled police, then held them at bay with a gun to his head.

One of the responding officers was a hostage negotiator who helped bring the standoff to a peaceful conclusion three hours later.

Ruben Castro's former girlfriend told police he assaulted her Saturday morning and held her captive in her condo after he discovered papers that showed she planned to request a restraining order against him, Westminster police spokesman Trevor Materasso said.

Investigators were looking for Castro just before 10 p.m. Saturday when they spotted him driving a white Pontiac Grand Am.

Officers attempted to pull the car over in the 8400 block of North Alcott Street, but Castro instead led police on a short pursuit south on Federal Boulevard, police said.

He then turned left on West 74th Avenue. At Eliot Street and 74th, one of the officers disabled the Grand Am with road spikes.

Police said Castro held a handgun to his head and the hostage negotiator immediately began negotiations. SWAT team officers eventually took Castro into custody without a struggle.

Castro is facing charges of kidnapping, second-degree assault, menacing and eluding. He is being held without bail at the Jefferson County Jail.

Court records show that a restraining order was issued against Castro in November 2004. In September 2005, he was sentenced to four years probation after pleading guilty to a stalking charge.