Lake Elsinore Assault Suspect Tracked To Fullerton, Arrested in Corona

LAKE ELSINORE – Police arrested a man on Monday that had assaulted a woman and her male roommate who were both threatened if they contacted law enforcement. Samuel Lopez, 32 of Lake Elsinore, was charged with numerous assaults of an unidentified 26-year-old woman. Police determined that Lopez was also in possession of an unknown type of explosive device inside the residence.

Both victims, along with a juvenile, were able to leave the residence at the 32600 block of San Lucas St. and report the abuse shortly after noon. Sgt. Patrick J. Chavez said that Lopez had threatened to kill the female and male victims “if they contacted law enforcement.”

32600 San Lucas Street

The male roommate, who was present when the female victim was assaulted, was assaulted by Lopez afterward. Detectives eventually located Lopez in Fullerton, an Orange County city about 45 miles away from Lake Elsinore, and followed him to the Riverside County city of Corona. Chavez said Lopez was taken into custody without incident in Corona.

A Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hazardous Device Team, said Chavez, was summoned to the suspect’s residence where an unknown type of device was located inside and eventually rendered safe.
Police did not describe the nature of the assaults. Lopez was later taken to the Southwest Detention Center.

Lopez was charged with kidnapping, domestic violence, child abuse, terrorist threats and assault with a deadly weapon. Injuries to either adult victim or any possible injuries to the minor were not reported. Chavez said the investigation would continue.

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