Palmdale Man Held After Search
A Palmdale man has been arrested in Santa Paula after pushing through the ceiling of a motel room, spurring police to mount a helicopter and canine search that led to his capture in a carwash, authorities said Tuesday.
Arnoldo Lopez Chavez, 32, was booked on suspicion of assault and taken to Ventura County Jail to await return to Los Angeles County for prosecution, Santa Paula Police Sgt. Michael Saviers said.
Chavez, who was wanted by Los Angeles County authorities on suspicion of severe spousal assault, was possibly in Santa Paula to intimidate the victim, Saviers said.
Acting on a tip Monday morning, Santa Paula police went to a motel where they found Chavez’s vehicle. Chavez was not there, and police believe that he fled the motel room by making a hole in the ceiling, crawling through the attic and exiting through another room, Saviers said.
About 3 p.m. Monday, police spotted Chavez on railroad tracks on East Main Street and chased him. An officer fired one shot, but no one was injured, Saviers said. A helicopter and canine search led police to a carwash in the 1400 block of East Main, where Chavez was found and arrested.
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