911 Calls Reported a Knife Chase. Police Made an Arrest

Several Callers Report a Chase

Orange County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 22-year-old man after several 911 callers reported seeing one man chase another with a knife in Stanton. The calls came in at about 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 24, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Deputies responded to the area of Beach Boulevard and Chapman Avenue and found a man with serious injuries. He was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Victim Dies at Hospital

The injured man was identified by authorities as Joshua Lee Long, 45. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The Sheriff’s Department opened a homicide investigation as deputies gathered information from people who had witnessed the incident. Officials did not release a detailed account of what allegedly led to the confrontation in the initial public statement.

Witnesses Provide Vehicle Information

Witnesses told deputies that the suspect had left the area in a vehicle. They provided investigators with a description of the suspect and the license plate number associated with the vehicle he was seen in, according to the department. That information gave deputies a specific lead as they searched the surrounding area. Investigators then used license plate reader information to locate the vehicle a short distance away.

Vehicle Pursuit Follows

The Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as Charles Mathew Swanson, 22. Deputies said a vehicle pursuit began after they located him. During the pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle was involved in a collision, according to the department. Swanson was then taken into custody. The agency’s release did not describe additional injuries from the collision or provide further details about the pursuit.

Suspect Booked on Suspicion of Murder

Swanson was booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of murder. Being booked on suspicion of a crime is not the same as a conviction, and the allegation against him has not been proven in court. The Sheriff’s Department did not announce a motive in its initial release. No additional suspects were identified in the public statement.

Detectives Seek More Information

The homicide investigation remains active. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has asked anyone with additional information to contact investigators. The agency also directs people who want to remain anonymous to Orange County Crime Stoppers. The case now moves forward from the initial arrest as detectives continue gathering evidence and prosecutors determine the next legal steps.

References: Homicide in Stanton, Suspect Arrested