SALINAS ATTEMPTED MURDER ARREST 09-24-10 08:00 a.v.
A man who was charged with raping and beating his girlfriend, was arrested yesterday. Police say 39-year old Baltemar Valenzuela Lopez forced his way into the victim’s residence on the 1600 block of Boston Street Wednesday night, where he choked and beat the woman severely causing her to lose consciousness. Lopez then sexually assaulted and raped the woman. She was able to escape and call the police. Lopez was later booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of rape, false imprisonment and attempted murder.