Suspect Flees Murrieta Raising Cane's Crash, Faces Elder-Abuse Charges: Police

MURRIETA, CA — A 33-year-old Murrieta resident was arrested over the weekend at Murrieta's Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers on suspicion of committing numerous charges, including elder abuse and resisting arrest.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Murrieta police arrived at the fast food restaurant parking area, located at 24655 Madison Avenue, where a suspect reported the battery of a 66-year-old man in the fast food parking lot.

"The victim and the suspect were involved in a minor vehicle collision in that parking lot," Capt. Jeremy Durrant said. After the incident, the suspect struck the victim in the face several times.

According to the police's Facebook page, during the exchange of information for insurance, one driver — who appeared to be impaired — began assaulting the other.

"The suspect fled, and officers found him driving at a high rate of speed through multiple red lights and endangering other motorists," Durrant said.

Officers caught up with the driver in the Courtyard By Marriott Hotel at 25419 Madison Avenue, where he was taken into custody after a brief struggle. During that struggle, the suspect attempted to grab an arresting officer's taser.

"No officers were hurt during the incident," the police department shared.

Cole Stake was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center. He was being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, and was due to appear in court on Wednesday at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center on pending charges of resisting an officer, battery of a peace officer, battery on another person, felony elder abuse, reckless driving, and hit and run involving property damage.