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Transient arrested after two men injured in dispute

By Natalie Ragus/Staff Writer

An Arroyo Grande transient is being held at County Jail without bail for allegedly beating up one of his girlfriend’s relatives and intentionally running over another with a car during an apparent domestic dispute in Nipomo.

Nicholas Anthony Balcita, 29, was booked at County Jail last week on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, according to jail staff.

Balcita made his first appearance in court Dec. 26, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Prior to his transfer to County Jail, Balcita was taken by law enforcement to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, where he received drug treatment because high levels of narcotics were allegedly found in his system at the time of his arrest.

At 8 p.m. Dec. 23, sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic dispute at a home on Jupiter Drive, where they found Balcita had allegedly assaulted Larry Guzman and run over Joseph Luna with a stolen car before fleeing.

Guzman suffered a broken rib and Luna received a deep laceration to his leg.

The dispute reportedly began when Balcita and his girlfriend, Cheree Guzman — a relative of Luna’s and Larry Guzman’s — got into an altercation while talking over the phone earlier in the day, said Sheriff’s Department spokesman Rob Bryn.

Following the verbal fight, Balcita allegedly stole a car in Guadalupe and drove to Nipomo to confront Cheree. When Guzman and Luna attempted to protect her, Balcita turned violent toward the two men, Bryn said.

After allegedly hitting Luna with the stolen vehicle, Balcita fled Nipomo, sparking a manhunt that ended when Arroyo Grande police received a report of an assault at Wal-Mart. The suspect in that assault matched Balcita’s description.

Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach police found Balcita, who resisted arrest. However, police eventually controlled, arrested and transported him to the hospital, Bryn said.

Police found the vehicle Balcita was driving during the alleged attack in the parking lot of the Sizzler restaurant, directly across from Wal-Mart. It had been stolen out of Guadalupe, Bryn added.

nragus@theadobepress.com