ROSAMOND – A 38-year-old Lancaster man was jailed Thursday on suspicion of stalking and violating a restraining order after he allegedly broke into a Rosamond woman’s home, authorities said.
Dustin Downing repeatedly told deputies to shoot and kill him as he was being arrested outside a house on the 2400 block of Werner Avenue, according to a news release from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, after deputies were dispatched to a “suspicious circumstance call” at a Rosamond residence, the news release states.
The victim had sent a message to a friend via Facebook saying Downing broke into her house while she was there with her 3-year-old daughter. The victim has an active restraining order against Downing, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
“Deputies arrived and tried to make contact with the female. The suspect came out of the house wearing camouflage pants, boots, a black shirt and a black bandana covering his face,” the news release states.
“The suspect, who was identified as Dustin Downing from Lancaster, had a dagger tucked into his waistband. Deputies were able to take Downing into custody, as he repeatedly told them to shoot and kill him,” the news release states.
Downing was arrested on suspicion of stalking, false imprisonment, willful cruelty to child, burglary, violation of a domestic violence restraining order, brandishing a weapon and making terrorist threats.
He remains jailed on $510,000 bail, according to Kern County inmate records.
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b says
If she could send a message via Facebook…why didn’t she call the police herself?
Lae says
calling 911 requires verbal interactions that the suspect could possibly hear, so perhaps she was hiding inside the house and didn’t want to alert the suspect to her position in the house. that can make the situation that much more dangerous. leaving a Facebook message makes no sound at all.
J says
Because she was probably hiding and didnt want him to hear her on the phone.