Suspect in Domestic Assault Arrested in Menifee

A man accused of attacking his girlfriend and mother was arrested Saturday and faces charges of attempted murder after a 20-minute car chase from Hemet into Menifee.

Jason Shewach, 36, of Hemet was taken into custody without incident after he lost control of his vehicle near the 215 Freeway and Highway 74 in Menifee. He faces two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated mayhem. Bail is set at $1 million.

The incident began at 9:28 p.m. Saturday, when the City of Hemet Police Dispatch Center received a 911 call about a fight between a male and a female in the 8200 block of Maruyama Drive in west Hemet. Shortly thereafter, one of the victims called 911 and said that her son was trying to kill her and had already hurt his girlfriend, Hemet police said.

The first responding officers located two female victims who had injuries consistent with blunt force trauma to the head and upper body. Both victims were transported to local hospitals with major injuries. According to police, the suspect and the first victim were in a dating relationship and the second victim was the suspect’s mother. Officer said the mother was attacked when she tried to come to the aid of the first victim.

Responding officers determined that the suspect had already fled the scene prior to their arrival. At about 10:03 p.m., a City of Hemet Police officer spotted the suspect vehicle in the 1700 block of W. Florida Avenue and attempted to stop it. The vehicle fled and a pursuit was initiated.

The suspect led Hemet Police officers and Riverside County Sheriff Deputies on a lengthy pursuit until the suspect was taken into custody in Menifee.