SAN JACINTO - A 33-year-old man suspected of assaulting his girlfriend and imprisoning her for several hours in her own home in San Jacinto was behind bars today.

Antonio Sierra of San Jacinto was arrested in the 600 block of De Anza Drive around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday after the woman escaped during a forced visit to a convenience store, said Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Michael Canizales.

"The investigation revealed the victim had been falsely imprisoned in her home by her boyfriend. The victim made several attempts to flee the residence but the suspect held her against her will inside the residence for several hours," Canizales said.

When Sierra Advertisement

[ Murrieta Volkswagen ] forced the woman to travel with him to a convenience store, she made her escape, Canizales said.

Sierra was arrested on suspicion of spousal abuse, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, false imprisonment, making criminal threats and brandishing a weapon, Canizales said. Details of how he allegedly assaulted the woman and what kind of weapon was used were not immediately released. Sierra was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he was being held today in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to sheriff's online jail records.

He was due in court in Murrieta on Friday, according to the sheriff's department.