Photo: Getty Images
LAGUNA BEACH (CNS) - A 31-year-old convicted felon wanted by Laguna Beach police on suspicion of robbing and assaulting an ex-girlfriend was taken into custody Friday.
Long Beach Fire Department paramedics recognized Charles Thomas Kelley IV as they were taking him to an area hospital for an unrelated, undisclosed incident, Laguna Beach police reported. Laguna Beach police issued photos of Kelley through the media to help generate leads that could result in his arrest.
Laguna Beach detectives went to the hospital where Kelley is and took him into custody about 3 a.m., police said. Kelley was wanted on warrant on charges of assault in January, according to court records.
Once doctors clear him to be released from the hospital, Kelley is expected to be booked on suspicion of attempted murder and other charges related to the April 19 alleged attack on his ex-girlfriend, police said.
Police said a residential burglary Tuesday evening was allegedly carried out by Kelley, who hours later allegedly attacked the victim.
Officers responded the following morning to a reported domestic violence incident at the home in the 1600 block of Tahiti Avenue, and contacted the woman, who suffered significant injuries, police said. She was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
``Due to the proximity of the incident to area schools, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School were placed on alert though no threat to student or staff safety was present," according to Laguna Beach police.
Kelley has a lengthy criminal history, according to court records. He was charged in January with assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury with a sentencing enhancement for the infliction of great bodily injury for an assault on a man Jan. 21, court records show.
Kelley pleaded guilty March 19, 2021, to an armed robbery with a knife at an ATM in Irvine and leading police on a chase in Newport Beach, according to court records.
He was also convicted in San Diego County Aug. 29, 2016 of aggravated battery, according to court records.