A 22-year-old Santa Maria man has been arrested for a violent domestic violence incident that left a woman with life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred on April 19 when a man was reported dragging a woman into a car.
The victim was later found at a separate location with injuries from being hit and run over by a car. Manuel Mendez was identified as the primary suspect after a two-month investigation.
Mendez faces charges including attempted murder, kidnapping, and domestic violence, and is held on $1 million bail. The investigation continues as the victim recovers.