Man Slashes Woman in La Habra Park

A mother sitting with her 2-year-old child in her car at a La Habra park Saturday was slashed by a man wielding a broken bottle who had tried to rob her, police said.

The 27-year-old woman suffered cuts to her face, hands and arms when she tried to fend off the man, Sgt. Phillip Stufflebean said. The man also threatened to kill the child, he said.

Mario Olabarria, 24, of La Habra was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and robbery, Stufflebean said.

The victim was identified as Janice Linville of La Habra. She was taken to La Habra Community Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.

Police said the woman had been at Las Lomas Park and was sitting in her car with the child at about 11:30 a.m. when the man approached her and demanded money and her car. When she refused, he began attacking her with a broken beer bottle, striking her several times, Stufflebean said.

The woman screamed during the attack, and the man ran away. Officers arriving at the scene got a description of the man and took off after him, pursuing him through a residential area, Stufflebean said.

About a half hour later, while the search for the suspect continued, Olabarria walked into the La Habra police station and asked why he was being chased, Stufflebean said.

Olabarria was arrested.

Stufflebean said the suspect was recently paroled from state prison but could not disclose his past offense.