Tovar stopped the truck on the northbound shoulder at the small seaside community of La Conchita, but refused to exit the vehicle, telling officers he was going to kill himself with a knife they observed him holding to his throat.The CHP ordered the 101 closed between Carpinteria and the Highway 33 interchange while officers, including a hostage negotiator, spoke to Tovar via a cell phone.Finally, Tovar surrendered and had to be transported to an area hospital with self-inflicted knife wounds.According to Santa Paula Police Chief Bob Gonzales, Tovar had been widowed in recent weeks and had been reported to be distraught; there was no information available regarding the child molestation charges.
Man armed with knife, threatening suicide, shuts down 101
May 10, 2002
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula man armed with a knife and threatening suicide finally surrendered after a four-hour standoff that closed Highway 101 at La Conchita Wednesday night.
The incident started in Santa Paula at about 6:20 p.m. when local police tried to arrest 48-year-old Patrick Tovar on suspicion of child molestation. Tovar, driving a semi truck with a flatbed trailer, fled, entering westbound Highway 126 where the pursuit was joined by the California Highway Patrol. Tovar continued to drive onto the northbound 101.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA Santa Paula man armed with a knife and threatening suicide finally surrendered after a four-hour standoff that closed Highway 101 at La Conchita Wednesday night.The incident started in Santa Paula at about 6:20 p.m. when local police tried to arrest 48-year-old Patrick Tovar on suspicion of child molestation. Tovar, driving a semi truck with a flatbed trailer, fled, entering westbound Highway 126 where the pursuit was joined by the California Highway Patrol. Tovar continued to drive onto the northbound 101.Tovar led the officers, including Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, on a high speed pursuit that only ended when Tovar’s vehicle ran over CHP spike strips near the Seacliff area which flattened the tires on his truck; he slowed down to about 35 mph before pulling over.
