Santa Ana

Man Spends Night in Jail Over Domestic Dispute, Then Plows Car Into Girlfriend's Store: Police

The man faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon

A man who spent the night in jail over a domestic dispute was arrested again the same morning of his release, after police say he plowed his car into his girlfriend's Santa Ana business - while she was inside.

The chains of events began Monday night, when officers responding to a domestic violence call at a home in the 3900 block of West 5th Street took Jose Franco into custody, the Santa Ana Police Department said.

Franco was served with restraining order papers while he was being held at the Santa Ana Jail on a malicious mischief charge. He was released just after 9 a.m. Tuesday, and he immediately drove to his girlfriend's nutrition store at 119 Harbor Boulevard, police said.

By the time officers arrived, Franco had gone. But he allegedly returned about 10:30 a.m., this time intentionally smashing his car into the store front, shattering large plate glass windows and a door, police said.

The car ended up inside the store. His girlfriend, who was the only person inside, was not hurt.

Franco allegedly ran off, but police caught up with him a short time later and arrested him without incident for assault with a deadly weapon.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story referred to the couple as husband and wife. Investigators later said they were not married.

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