A Lompoc man is facing attempted murder and other charges for a suspected case of domestic violence, according to police.
Lompoc police say they arrested Eric Allen Ornelas, 51, on Sunday after they were called to a home in the 800 block of North O Street for a report of a fight between a man and a woman. The caller said the man had attempted to strangle the woman.
Police say they found the victim, Ornelas’ fiance, with visible injuries as the result of being choked. She was taken to the hospital for an examination.
Police say Ornelas was no longer at the scene when officers arrived but he returned to the home later in the day and was arrested at that time.
Investigators say the victim had suffered almost daily physical abuse for the past two weeks and that Ornelas had threatened her life.
Ornelas was reportedly booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, making criminal threats, preventing/dissuading a victim from reporting a crime, false imprisonment, and kidnapping. Bail is set at $1 million.
