San Marcos domestic violence suspect facing arraignment

VISTA (CNS) – Arraignment is scheduled Friday for a man accused of committing domestic violence and sexual battery at an apartment in San Marcos.

Garth Clem, 37, was taken into custody Tuesday night in the 600 block of South Twin Oaks Valley Road, according to San Diego County sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Michalke.

Around 8:15 p.m., deputies were asked to do a welfare check at an apartment in the area and, once there, heard a female screaming and a witness directed them to a specific apartment, Michalke said.

The screaming female met deputies at the front door and was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries she suffered in a domestic violence assault, he said, Deputies contacted Clem inside the apartment and he was taken into custody with the help of a police dog, the sergeant said.

“It was later determined there were two additional victims of a sexual battery,” Michalke said, but did not elaborate.

Clem was booked into the Vista jail on suspicion of assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment, sexual battery, assault likely to produce great bodily injury or death, kidnapping and resisting arrest, with bail set at $260,000.