SANTA ANA – A 36-year-old man was charged Wednesday with pistol whipping another man. The incident was over a dispute about a handball game in Irvine.
Santos Arturo Ochoa was charged with attempted murder, assault with a firearm and possession of an undetectable gun, all felonies. He also faces sentencing enhancements for attempted premeditated murder and discharge of a gun. Additionally, committing an offense while out on bail is another charge.
Ochoa was out on bail on two counts of carrying a concealed loaded unregistered gun. He also faced a count of leading police on a chase, all felonies, and a misdemeanor count of possession of nitrous oxide.
Police were called at about 5:45 p.m. Monday to University Park. The victim said he was shot in the head, according to spokesman Ziggy Azarcon of the Irvine Police Department. However, the victim was not actually shot in the head but was struck with a pistol, Azarcon said.
Ochoa was arrested nearby in an apartment complex. The alleged dispute the two had was over a handball game, Azarcon said.
Ochoa did not enter a plea Wednesday in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana. He was scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 17 in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
