Man in Standoff Evaluated at Hospital
A Santa Paula man whose standoff with police closed Highway 101 for four hours Wednesday night was being evaluated at a mental health hospital Thursday for allegedly threatening suicide and stabbing himself several times during the incident.
At the hospital, Patrick Tovar, 46, also was being held on suspicion of rape, child molestation and making criminal threats, police said. He will be booked into Ventura County Jail this weekend, authorities said.
Tovar was airlifted to Ventura County Medical Center about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday after leading Santa Paula police and California Highway Patrol officers on a chase that ended near La Conchita, north of Ventura.
After a spike strip disabled his truck, Tovar moved to the highway shoulder and negotiated with authorities by cell phone before SWAT officers fired several rounds of nonlethal ammunition into the cab and pulled him out.
Santa Paula Police Chief Robert Gonzales said the department had been investigating Tovar since Tuesday, following a tip from a resident. More charges may be filed as the investigation continues, Gonzales said.
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