Bodega assault suspect still at large

A Bodega man remained at large Tuesday, wanted on a $250,000 arrest warrant involving an alleged assault that led to a lengthy law enforcement and SWAT team response Sunday in the tiny town.

Sean Aloysious Cameron, 33, who at times goes by “Spartacus,” is suspected of assaulting a woman he had dated and is wanted on suspicion of domestic violence and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman told deputies that Cameron arrived at her Bodega home about 3 a.m. Sunday, attempting to rekindle their relationship. When she declined, he became abusive and assaulted her, sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Crum said Tuesday.

Cameron then left, and she emailed a sheriff’s deputy who was aware of prior alleged domestic violence incidents involving Cameron, Crum said. When the deputy awoke and found the email, he called her. Meanwhile, Cameron had returned to her home and the deputy could hear yelling in the background during the 8:30 a.m. phone call.

Deputies responded to the Salmon Creek Road residence and found the woman, but the suspect had gone. She had visible red marks on her body and a small cut to one cheek but didn’t need medical treatment, Crum said.

She told deputies what he was driving and that he could be armed with a handgun and rifle.

Cameron was living in an apartment with others above the Bodega Country Store. Deputies went there and found the vehicle.

A person who knows Cameron told deputies he was in the apartment and wouldn’t come out, launching a lengthy effort to contact Cameron in the residence. The sheriff’s hostage negotiation team and SWAT deputies responded. Bodega Highway was closed for more than three hours during the event as the store sits just feet from the highway.

Eventually, two others came out of the apartment but declined to give deputies information about Cameron, Crum said. At 2:30 p.m., the SWAT team used several flash-bang grenades, then went inside to search. The man wasn’t there.

“It sounds like he was never there,” Crum said. “We do think all the people were misleading and uncooperative.”