Maestas hit with several charges

By submitted, 07/7/18 11:05 AM

HOPE – Independence Day was anything but fun for a Hope man, who wound up getting arrested on a number of charges.

At approximately 7:50 a.m., Deputy Reyn Brown and Jim Bush were dispatched to 6856 Highway 371 in reference to a domestic.

Upon arrival, they spoke with a female victim, who stated Vincent Maestas pushed her against the wall and would not let her leave. She stated she grabbed her pistol and pointed it at him and told him “just let me leave”, The victim said Maestas took the gun away from her.

The victim stated she ran outside and tried to get into her car. She stated he took the keys as she was trying to unlock the car and broke one of the keys. Victim stated she ran towards the neighbor’s house. She stated she heard him fire a shot into the air. Victim stated Maestas did not threaten her with the gun and did not point it at her. She stated he was just trying to keep her from leaving.

The victim advised the deputies he was still in the house and that she wanted him removed from the property. She stated he had only been staying with her for approximately three days.

Deputies located Maestas hiding in a space behind the air filter for the air conditioner after noticing the vent cover was unlatched. Deputies ordered him get on the ground in the hallway with his hands out away from him, and he complied. and took him into custody.

Maestas began complaining he could not go back to jail. He stated he was having a panic attack. Deputies were able to get him to calm down a bit and then he advised deputies that he wanted to kill himself and that prior to our arrival he took 15 Tylenol 4s and four 10mg valiums. Maestas continued stating he needs help and he was suicidal. Deputy Brown contacted dispatch and advised them to get Nevada County EMS to the location.

While awaiting EMS’ arrival, Deputy Brown located the pistol, the gun was a chrome plated Lorcin Model L380 semi-automatic .380 caliber pistol.

Upon Nevada County EMS’ arrival, deputies assisted them in getting Maestas on the gurney and handcuffed each arm to it. Deputy Jim Bush followed the ambulance to Wadley Regional Medical Center at Hope, where he stood by with Maestas until Transport Officer Gary Middleton, of the Hempstead County Detention Center, arrived at which time Maestas was left in Officer Middleton’s custody.

At 11:12 AM, dispatch advised there was an inmate attempting to escape the emergency room at Wadley Regional Medical Center. Dispatch advised Maestas escaped the hospital and was running southbound into some woods south of Bill Clinton Drive.

Transport Officer Gary Middleton. advised Maestas slipped one of the cuffs while the doctors where removing the IV. He stated the doctor was between him and Maestas, allowing the suspect to make it out of the door.

Officer Middleton stated Maestas ran south towards the Bill Clinton Drive. When he tried to cross the Bill Clinton Drive, a white colored Cadillac CTS collided with him breaking a mirror from the car and causing him to be thrown over the car and off of the side. He stated Maestas got up and continued running south into the woods.

Sgt. Oller of the Hope Police Department advised he located the subject hiding in a truck parked at the back of the residence at 304 East 24th Street.   Maestas exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.

He was transported back to the hospital to get checked out from being hit by a car. After being checked out by medical personnel, he was transported to the Hempstead County Detention Center. He was charged with possession of firearm by certain person, domestic battery 3rd, possession of drug paraphernalia, interfering with emergency communications, escape 2nd, and breaking or entering.