Cops ID Parolee Suspected Of Attacking Torrance Resident

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Police identified a parolee Monday who was arrested after allegedly attacking a Torrance resident who interrupted the suspect burglarizing his home. Joseph Valdes, of Lomita, was already on parole for an assault conviction; he was arrested about 1:30 p.m. last Thursday in relation to the burglary. The resident was treated by firefighters following the confrontation, which took place about three hours earlier in the 1900 block of 236th Street, near Western Avenue, according to Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris.

Valdes allegedly assaulted the resident with a shovel before grabbing the keys to the victim's vehicle, Harris said.

"The subject attempted to flee in the victim's vehicle, but was unable to maneuver around other parked vehicles," according to the sergeant. "The subject then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot."

Police conducted a methodical search – involving officers, dogs and drones – that included Knoll's Lodge at 23701 S. Western Ave. and Valdes was taken into custody about 1:30 p.m., Harris said.

Harris credited an alert neighbor for calling police after observing suspicious activity. Valdes was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records.

City News Service contributed to this post; Image courtesy of the Torrance Police Department