News

Released: July 15, 2016 - Friday, 07:04 PM

Kidnapping, Domestic Spousal Abuse Causing Corporal Injury, Criminal Threats

Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 7-15-16, Approximately 11:00 AMPlace of Occurrence: 200 Block of Walnut Street, Arroyo GrandeVictim Information: 32-year-old FemaleSuspect Information: Craig Michael Stephens, 32, Arroyo Grande On 7-14-16 at approximately 3:00 PM, a woman walked into the main ranger station at Lopez Lake claiming her boyfriend had physically assaulted her at their campsite. The boyfriend is identified as 32-year-old Craig Michael Stephens of Arroyo Grande. The woman says Stephens left in their vehicle, leaving her at the campground.
While Deputies were enroute to that location, the suspect returned to the campground in the vehicle. According to the victim, she got into the car because of prior threats he had made against her and concern for her safety if she did not cooperate. On the way back to Arroyo Grande, the woman pleaded with Stephens to let her out of the vehicle, but he refused. At one point, when the car came to a stop sign, the woman jumped out of the car and ran away. She was able to make it to a friend's house in Grover Beach. Deputies began searching for the victim and put out a BOL (Be On the Lookout) for the suspect.
On 7-15-16, at approximately 11:00 AM, Deputies went to the 200 block of Walnut Street in Arroyo Grande that was affiliated with the suspect's car. While Deputies were at that location, Stephens walks up, notices the Deputies and begins to run, but is quickly apprehended.
At approximately the same time, another Deputy spots the suspect vehicle being driven in Arroyo Grande and initiates a traffic stop. The driver is identified as the suspect's father, 64-year-old Michael Lennox Stephens of Arroyo Grande. He was arrested on an unrelated warrant.
About two hours later, the victim in this case calls the Sheriff's Office to let investigators know her location.
Stephens was booked into County Jail for kidnapping, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, criminal threats with the intent to terrorize and resisting arrest.