Suspect in Freeway Attack in Menifee Pleads Not Guilty
Map source: mapquest.com A Menifee man accused of attacking a group of people -- including an 18-month-old boy -- on the shoulder of Int...
http://www.menifee247.com/2015/05/suspect-in-freeway-attack-in-menifee-pleads-not-guilty.html
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| Map source: mapquest.com |
A Menifee man accused of attacking a group of people -- including an 18-month-old boy -- on the shoulder of Interstate 215 entered pleas of not guilty today to seven felony counts and one misdemeanor, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's office.
Among the charges faced by Nicolas Lopez Garcia, 44, are one count each of attempted murder and attempted kidnapping -- both involving the toddler -- along with felony child endangerment, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. There are also sentencing enhancements of inflicting great bodily injury, according to the DA's office.
Garcia is the suspect in the attack on four adults and a child in a car that had stopped on the shoulder of northbound Interstate 215. The occupants of the vehicle had stopped to change a flat tire about a mile south of the Newport Road exit about 1:30 a.m. on Monday, according to a California Highway Patrol report. The suspect allegedly ran across lanes from the other side of the freeway and broke out windows of the 1990 Mazda hatchback.
According to a news release from the DA's office, the defendant allegedly tried to pull the toddler from the car. When he was unable to do so, he allegedly stabbed the child with what is believed to be a freeway sign paddle marker. Adults in the vehicle -- including the child's mother and father -- came to the child's defense and were reportedly slashed or cut with the paddler marker.
After the victims fled and called 911, officers found the suspect still at the scene, setting fire to some of the family's personal belongings, according to the CHP. The suspect allegedly resisted arrest and was subdued with the use of a Taser.
The toddler and three of the adults were treated at a nearby hospital for their injuries, none of which were considered life-threatening. The victims are referred to only by their first name and last initial in the official complaint.
If convicted as currently charged, Garcia faces a sentence of about 25 years to life in prison. He is being held at the Southwest Detention Center in lieu of $2 million bail.
Crime is only going to get worse. Interesting to see the crime report next offered as it was told recently that crime in the city is down. Down from what figure? Last year it was up 200% or maybe we are now up only 199%. We have people panhandling in all the shopping centers, freeway off ramps on a daily basis. People need to start speaking up at city council meetings and ask what the city is doing to prevent things from getting worse. They are only worried about revenue and building new parks and the aesthetics of the city. The building need to be stopped until we resolve the water crisis and the crime situation needs to be addressed. City leaders have their heads in the sand.
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