Deputies arrested a suspected drunk driver Saturday night in the 22900 block of Lyons Avenue.  The man reportedly caused a small fire when he backed his car into a gas pump and then drove forward striking another one at the Unocal 76 Gas Station near Lyons Avenue and Newhall Avenue.  The station attendant ran out and removed the driver’s keys from the ignition and activated the station’s emergency gas shut off switch.  The suspect fled on foot and was apprehended by deputies a short distance away.  

The suspect, Jose Vargas, MH/24, of Newhall was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on misdemeanor charges of Driving Under the Influence, Hit and Run and Unlicensed Driver.  He is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail pending future court proceedings.  The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.

 

Barricaded Suspect Surrenders in Canyon Country

A standoff lasting nearly six hours in 19000 block of San Marino Court ended without incident early Friday morning when the suspect surrendered to deputies.  The incident began at approximately 7:23 p.m. when deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station spotted a suspect who was wanted on domestic assault and criminal threat related charges.  The suspect, Frank Aaron Hickey, MW/28, of Canyon Country, ran inside a residence, refused all orders to come out and was reportedly armed. 

Suspect Hickey was being sought in connection with an October 8th, 2007, incident when he allegedly committed a domestic assault on his former girlfriend, stole a car, and made criminal threats.  Deputies closed down Golden Valley Road in both directions between Green Mountain Drive and State Route 14.  A Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) team and Crisis Negotiators were called in, and at approximately 1:19 a.m. this morning suspect Hickey came out of the house and surrendered to deputies.  Suspect Hickey was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on a felony Criminal Threats charge.  He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail pending future court proceedings.