1:00 p.m. ET This story has been updated 

In a shocking and brazen attack on Wednesday, 32-year-old Alejandro Alvarez of Whittier, CA  took a chainsaw to his wife’s arm in front of their three children.Police believe Alejandro Alvarez, 32, tried to kill his wife at their home before driving off Wednesday afternoon.

From NBC4 in Los Angeles:

The drama unfolded Wednesday when Whittier police were sent to the 7700 block of Milton Avenue on a report of “an attempted murder stemming from a domestic violence incident,” said Officer John Scroggins, a spokesman for the Whittier Police Department.

When police arrived, they found a woman suffering from wounds caused by a chainsaw, officials said. She was taken to a hospital with wounds to her chest. She was listed in stable condition. The children, ages 10, 8 and 5, were not hurt. They were placed into protective custody, Scoggins said.

He then escaped in the family car, only to crash it and then steal another. Alvarez was eventually apprehended Thursday afternoon.

While on the run, Alvarez crashed the car, then took a Mercury Mountaineer from a driver who had left it and the keys in the ignition, police said.

Authorities in San Diego County found Alvarez on Thursday afternoon still inside the stolen sport utility vehicle, Scroggins said.

During the traffic stop, Alvarez allegedly tried to ram a police car, but authorities managed to take him into custody without anyone getting hurt, said Chula Vista Police Lt. Kenny Heinz.

KFI radio reporter Andrew Mollenbeck has confirmed with ICE that Alvarez is a serial immigration offended and has been deported up to 11 times since 2005.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says the man accused of attacking his wife with a chainsaw in Whittier is a serial immigration violator. He’s been removed from the U.S. 11 times since 2005. Detainer now lodged against him.

— mollenbeck (@amollenbeckKFI) July 13, 2018

At the time of this publication ICE had not yet responded to Redstate’s own requests for confirmation.

Official statement on Alejandro Alvarez from ICE, July 13, 2018:

STATEMENT:

 

Deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have lodged an immigration detainer against Mr. Alvarez-Villegas, requesting that local authorities notify ICE prior to his release to enable ICE to take him into custody. Department of Homeland Security databases indicate Mr. Alvarez-Villegas is a serial immigration violator who has been removed from the United States 11 times since 2005. 

ON BACKGROUND:

Depending on an alien’s criminal history, an alien who illegally reenters the United States, after having been previously removed, has committed a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.