By Mary O’KEEFE

A man is in custody after the woman he was living with went to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station asking for help.

The 45-year-old man had met the woman several months ago, according to the sheriff’s report. He quickly moved into her home in the 4000 block of Ocean View Boulevard in Montrose.

It appears that once he moved in, the man became violent. He reportedly kicked, punched and slapped her, at times knocking her to the ground. The woman withstood the alleged abuse out of fear of what he may do if she reported it or fought back.

At times he would show her a gun and allegedly threaten her bragging that he had killed in the past. She reported to detectives that he regularly carried the handgun and was a chronic drug user.

In June, she reported he took the pink slip of her vehicle and forced her to sign it over to him. Again she complied out of fear. He threatened that if she said anything or told anyone he would come to her work and create a problem that would cause her to lose her job.

In September, he fled from deputies during a traffic stop. He came to her home to hide. She tried to run out of the house but he allegedly grabbed her and again threatened her life.

For several weeks he had held her hostage until finally he left, stealing her car. She waited a few days, still terrified to ask for help or to report the car stolen. She did go in to the CV Sheriff’s Station and reported her story to the detectives. CV Sheriff detectives arrested the man on Oct. 18. He is being held on bail totaling about $1 million.

“This happened not in our own backyard but our front yard,” said Sgt. Debra Herman. “Anyone who finds themselves in [an abusive situation] can come to us for help. We will help.”

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 799-7233. For a list of organizations that help victims of domestic violence, visit CVW website at www.cvweekly.com.

  Mary Okeefe