A Hollister resident was arrested for asking a friend to help
him kill his ex-girlfriend after leading police on a high-speed
chase through town early Wednesday morning, according to
police.
Hollister – A Hollister resident was arrested for asking a friend to help him kill his ex-girlfriend after leading police on a high-speed chase through town early Wednesday morning, according to police.
Sontu Garcia, 32, was arrested for domestic violence, solicitation to commit murder and evading police, all felonies, after five officers with the Hollister Police Department and San Benito County Sheriff’s Department chased him down and found him hiding in the backyard of a home in the area of Live Oak Drive, said Hollister police spokesman George Ramirez.
The victim, a 32-year-old Hollister woman, called police on Sunday to report that Garcia had choked her, causing visible injuries to her neck, Ramirez said.
While police were taking her statement, she told them to talk to a mutual friend of her and Garcia’s who lives in a home in the 1300 block of West Street, where the assault took place, he said.
“He told (officers) that in the past Garcia asked him if he wanted to help him kill her,” Ramirez said. “The friend didn’t take Garcia serious.”
Ramirez said he didn’t know when Garcia asked his friend to help kill the woman, but that she told police she was in fear for her life.
During the investigation, the victim gave police a note written by Garcia that police believe referred to him killing the woman, said District Attorney John Sarsfield.
Sarsfield said the note read, “I’ve got a job to do on her tonight. How can I do it if she is here in your house? I don’t want to disrespect your house. Answer and please be discreet.” The note was signed “Sontu,” and at the bottom said, “Can I handle my business?” Sarsfield said.
As a direct result of reading the note, police were instructed to “be on the lookout” for Garcia, Ramirez said.
Early Wednesday morning, Patrol Sgt. James Egan saw a man driving a vehicle matching Garcia’s description leaving the area of Powell Street, Ramirez said.
When Egan began following Garcia, Garcia turned his headlights off and fled at a high rate of speed, he said.
Once Garcia got to the Live Oak Drive area he jumped from his car and tried to flee on foot, Ramirez said. Hollister police and San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies set up a containment area in the surrounding block and began searching for Garcia, Ramirez said.
“They found him hiding in a backyard, trying to hide in the brush,” he said. “Once they located him verbal commands were given and he was advised a Taser would be deployed if he resisted. He gave up without offering any resistance.”
Garcia was booked into the San Benito County Jail in lieu of $561,000 for solicitation to commit murder, domestic violence and evading a peace officer, all felonies, and resisting police, a misdemeanor, according to jail personnel.
Garcia had a number of previous bookings in San Benito County dating back to 1992 for drug offenses, possession of stolen property, drunk driving, battery and burglary, among others, according to jail personnel.
Garcia served two prior prison terms for narcotics possession, and if convicted of all the charges could face a maximum of 16 years in prison, Sarsfield said.
He will be in court on Nov. 16, Sarsfield said.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
