Man Arrested In Stabbing Of Infant, Attack On Family On 215 Freeway
WILDOMAR (CBSLA.com) — A Romoland man is in custody after police say he stabbed an infant and attacked family members as they were changing a tire on the 215 Freeway Monday night.
Nicholas Lopez Garcia, 44, was behind bars Tuesday night after officers say he ran up to the family as they were fixing their car, broke off a plastic freeway paddle marker and attacked them on the freeway just south of Newport Road in Menifee.
According to investigators, the suspect began stabbing the 18-month-old boy in his neck and tried pulling the child in a car seat out of the car.
Family members were able to break free, drive away and call 911.
"They observed a male pedestrian run across the southbound traffic lanes, then across the northbound traffic lanes, and they observed a white object in his hands, which appeared to be a pipe," CHP Officer Mike Lassig said. "The subject broke the driver's side window of the Mazda hatchback and then walked to the rear of the vehicle and broke out the back window with this plastic object."
The mother and baby were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center, where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
"Our heart goes out to this family for what they've gone through," Lassig said.
Officers say the suspect was high on drugs.
Garcia is being charged with attempted murder as well as other charges and was being held Tuesday on $1 million bail.
