A transient man was taken into custody Tuesday after he allegedly moved a maintenance vehicle without permission and proceeded to chase the owner of the truck with a rake in Canyon Country.
Around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to the 19400 block of Soledad Canyon Road in Canyon Country regarding an assault with a deadly weapon call, said Deputy Natalie Arriaga, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
“It was reported the victim was being chased by the suspect with a rake,” Arriaga said.
During the investigation, deputies learned the victim was performing maintenance repairs when he noticed his utility vehicle was missing, Arriaga said.
A short period later, the victim found the vehicle parked on the opposite side of the parking lot from where he had originally parked, according to Arriaga.
“The victim confronted the suspect who was seated inside the vehicle at the time,” Arriaga said.
When the maintenance worker confronted the suspect, a verbal dispute occurred, which escalated into a physical altercation, according to Arriaga.
“The suspect then chased the victim with a rake in hand,” Arriaga said. “The suspect eventually stopped chasing the victim and ran out of view.”
Once deputies located and detained the suspect, the maintenance worker positively identified him as the suspect, according to Sheriff’s officials.
Hector Avila, 29, was arrested on a felony count of vehicle theft and misdemeanor counts of battery and petty theft, Arriaga added.
Avila was arrested and transported to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s jail with bail set at $0, according to arrest records.
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Hector Avila was arrested for stealing a maintenance cart, not a Ferrari—what’s next, a bike? C’mon Man