On June 26, 2021, at approximately 4:15 pm officers from the Coalinga Police Department responded to the 300 Block of West Polk Street on the report of a physical assault. On arrival officers located a female that had been assaulted. The 34-year-old victim stated she was involved in a verbal argument with the father of her children who she identified as 37-year-old Coalinga resident, Thomas Lambeth.
According to the victim, during the argument, Lambeth picked up a soda can and smashed it against the victim’s face causing injury. The victim ran into their bedroom where she picked up Lambeth’s phone and observed several text messages between Lambeth and another female. In the text messages Lambeth had allegedly written that he was going to kill the victim and steal her car.
The victim reported that Lambeth entered the bedroom and forced her to the floor where he began to tie her hands behind her back with the cord from a Kerby vacuum cleaner. As the victim began to cry, Lambeth stopped and then wrapped the cord around her neck and used enough force to where the victim could not breathe.
Lambeth then forcible removed the victim’s car keys from her pants pocket and fled the area. On June 27, 2021, at approximately 8:50 a.m., the Coalinga Police Department’s on-duty watch commander was contacted by an officer with the Arizona State Police. The officer in Arizona advised the watch commander that he had stopped Lambeth just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona for a traffic violation. The officer then learned that the vehicle he had stopped was stolen out of Coalinga.
The Arizona State Trooper was informed of the additional charges that were being sought against Lambeth and was advised that Coalinga police Department would be seeking an arrest warrant to extradite Lambeth back to California. On June 28, 2021, The Coalinga Police Department walked the case through the District Attorney’s office for review and charges were filed against Lambeth for PC 422 – Criminal Threats, PC 273.5(f) (1) – Domestic Violence with priors, PC 235 – False Imprisonment, PC 211- Robbery, PC 245(a) (4) – Assault with a deadly weapon which caused great bodily injury. Bail was set at $120,000.00 and a warrant was issued for Lambeth’s arrest.
The Coalinga Police Department is awaiting the approval for Lambeth’s extradition back to California from Arizona. Once the extradition is granted, officers form the Coalinga Police Department will travel to Flagstaff, Arizona and take custody of Lambeth. Lambeth will be brought back to Coalinga for questioning, booking and then will be taken to the Fresno County Jail.
All suspects are considered innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
