Steven Barry Hoffman, 31, is in custody charged with felony assault causing serious bodily injury on a female victim. He is incarcerated at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
Big Bear Lake, CA – A 31-year-old Big Bear man — Steven Barry Hoffman — is in custody at the West Valley Detention Center following his arrest on suspicion of felony assault with serious injury on a female victim who was flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment.
THE INITIAL INCIDENT
Steven Barry Hoffman (Contributed Photo)
Big Bear Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 7-11 convenience store in the 41000 block of Big Bear Boulevard at about 12:05 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, to a report of a subject disturbance.
The suspect — identified by authorities as Hoffman — was gone upon the arrival of deputies. Officers responded to Hoffman’s residence and made contact with the suspect.
He was directed not to return to 7-11, according to a media release issued by the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station.
THE ASSAULT
About a half hour after the contact with Hoffman, a deputy was completing the report at the 7-11 when he was contacted by a female who was bleeding from the face an d head.
The unidentified victim, identified by authorities as a relative that lives with Hoffman, told the deputy that Hoffman had repeatedly kicked her.
The woman reportedly indicated that Hoffman accused her of calling the Sheriff’s Department on him.
AREA SEARCH
Deputies returned to Hoffman’s residence but the suspect had fled the location prior to their arrival.
An overnight search — that included a bloodhound and handler from the Rancho Cucamonga Station — failed to locate Hoffman an d a warrant for his arrest was issued
At the time Hoffman disappeared he was described as having brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard. The media release reported he was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, purple snake skin pants, and brown cowboy boots.
THE ARREST
On Sunday, April 26, a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s deputy conducted a pedestrian check just before 2 a.m . in the area of Crab Flats Road and Green Valley Lake Road in Running Springs.
Once Hoffman was identified, the deputy placed him under arrest without incident.
He was transported to West Valley Detention Center and held on $300,000 bail.
Hoffman is scheduled for video arraignment at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27. (78)