SLO man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after police say he beat, tortured girlfriend

The San Luis Obispo Police Department arrested a homeless man on suspicion of attempted murder and torture on Tuesday after he allegedly beat and injured his girlfriend.

Unhoused resident Albert Jason Lucas II of San Luis Obispo allegedly assaulted his 52-year-old girlfriend while staying in a homeless encampment near the creek behind South Higuera Street, police said. Police say Lucas, 53, committed the crime between midnight and 6 a.m. and then fled the scene.

Police found the woman near Prado Road and Higuera Street later that day. She had facial injuries, and emergency responders sent her to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.

Officers then found Lucas near Elks Lane and Prado Road and arrested him without incident.

"Lucas was in possession of evidence related to the assault," police said in the news release.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office formally charged him on Thursday with multiple felonies, including attempted murder, dissuading a witness by force or threat, false imprisonment, domestic violence with a prior domestic violence conviction, torture causing great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, violating a domestic violence restraining order, domestic violence during the commission of a felony, terrorist threats and a probation violation, police said.

The office also charged him with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Lucas was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail without bail.

Anyone with information about the assault can call Detective Marques at 805-594-8060.