Arroyo Grande man arrested for kidnapping, criminal threats

July 16, 2016

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputies arrested an Arroyo Grande man Friday after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and kidnapped her after she called law enforcement.

At about 3 p.m., a woman walked into the main ranger station at Lopez Lake and told rangers her boyfriend, Craig Stephens, 32, had physically assaulted her at their campsite and then drove away. While deputies were in route, Stephens returned and the unnamed victim left in the vehicle with him.

The victim told deputies she left with Stephens because of prior threats Stephens had made against her and concern for her safety if she did not cooperate, officers said.

While the vehicle was stopped in Arroyo Grande, the woman jumped out of the car and fled.

On Friday, deputies went to the 200 block of Walnut Street in Arroyo Grande to look for Stephens. While deputies were looking for the suspect, Stephens walked up, saw the deputies and ran.

Shortly afterwards, deputies apprehended Stephens and booked him into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of kidnapping, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, criminal threats with the intent to terrorize and resisting arrest.

At about the same time, officers pulled over the vehicle Craig Stephens had been driving. Officers then arrested the driver, Michael Stephens, 64, Craig Stephens father, on a failure to appear warrant.

Both men remain in San Luis Obispo County Jail. Craig Stephens’ bail is set at $210,000 and Michael Stephens’ bail is set at $150,000.