A 69-year-old California man remained in critical condition on Wednesday after a violent assault outside his Escondido home, and police have charged a 32-year-old man with attempted murder.
Arrest Made at the Scene
Escondido police were dispatched at 2:15 p.m. to a reported assault near East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street. When officers arrived, they found the victim seriously hurt and took 32-year-old Thomas Caleb Butler into custody on the spot.
Butler was booked into the Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County and is being held without bail. He initially ran from the scene but was quickly caught by responding officers.
A utility worker who saw the attack stepped in and held the suspect down until police arrived. The worker was injured during the struggle.
Victim Remains in Intensive Care
The victim was taken to a trauma center, where he is still being treated in the intensive care unit. His wife, Maria Garcia, told CBS 8 that doctors have said her husband is unlikely to survive his injuries.
