Murder suspect arrested in Towne Center Wednesday

BY

There was major police activity in the Canyon Lake Towne Center Wednesday afternoon, March 11. With the assistance of Sheriff’s deputies from Canyon Lake and Menifee, investigators from Westminster arrested a prime suspect in a March 8 murder in Westminster.

The suspect (Daniel Duvall, 37, not a Canyon Lake resident) had been under surveillance at a house in Canyon Lake. He was a passenger in a dark green Nissan Titan pickup that was followed to the Towne Center Wednesday afternoon. A full felony car stop was made with guns drawn.

The driver of the pickup was detained but not arrested. An elderly passenger also was in the truck but was escorted out of the truck by police after the driver and Duvall were detained.

According to Westminster Police Sergeant Richard Mize, on March 8, 2015, at approximately 10:30 p.m., police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 15800 block of Topaz St. in Westminster, where they located a deceased male victim in a vehicle.

Investigation revealed the suspect, identified as Daniel Duvall, to be the nephew of the victim. Further investigation showed that Duvall possibly was hiding at a residence in Canyon Lake.

While under surveillance in Canyon Lake, the suspect was seen getting into a vehicle as a passenger and leaving the residence. Police followed the vehicle to the Canyon Lake Towne Center where, at around 3 p.m., they initiated a felony car stop. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Sgt. Mize said the driver, a Canyon Lake resident, was detained for questioning, but was not arrested and is not a suspect in this case.

Bystander Paul Chenette said he witnessed the police activity from his business, AutoCare USA. The activity took place on the road between the Canyon Lake Market and BBVA Compass. The truck was parked in front of the market. He said he saw five police cars surround the truck and officers surround the male driver and suspect with guns drawn.

He also saw police help an elderly woman out of the truck. The elderly passenger, 91, lives in Canyon Lake and signed a search warrant. Police later escorted her to her home on Blue Bird Dr., where police conducted the search warrant and arrested Tina Arbgast, 47, a resident of Westminster considered to be an accessory in the crime. Sgt. Mize said police were looking for a gun and did not find it.

Before the elderly resident was escorted home, bank employees at BBVA Compass provided a chair, coffee and cookies. She willingly provided her name but didn’t seem to know what the police activity was about. She said she had accepted a ride in the truck with her son’s friend (the driver).