A Santa Clarita couple has come forward with a harrowing story, revealing that their roommate allegedly poisoned them, culminating in a tense standoff with authorities on Tuesday. The couple claims this incident followed months of harassment by the man.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were dispatched to a residence on Tuesday after receiving alarming reports of suspected poisoning.
The couple, after enduring repeated illnesses and hospital visits for chest and stomach pain, reviewed surveillance footage and discovered their roommate allegedly spraying their food with what appeared to be Raid bug spray. This prompted them to contact the sheriff’s deputies.
Billy and David Sonhopper identified the suspect as 42-year-old Timothy Bradbury, who, they say, had been tormenting them for some time. However, it wasn’t until they viewed the surveillance footage that they comprehended the severity of the threat.
The footage captures Bradbury, wearing a gas mask, as he allegedly sprays what looks like a blue can of Raid onto their groceries and produce in the shared kitchen, even targeting items stored in the pantry.
David Sonhopper shared that during his most recent emergency room visit, he was informed of liver damage. Medical professionals, examining his blood work, suggested poisoning as a potential cause.
That’s what led the couple to check the cameras the landlord has installed in the home.
“On the video we found that, besides all the other things that he’s done in the year that we’ve lived here, that he was spraying something — we weren’t sure if it was rat poison, wasp spray,” David Sonhopper said.
“He was spraying stuff all over our groceries — our fruit, our vegetables, our coffee pot that we use every morning, and our whole pantry full of our chips and cereal, all of our canned goods and spices. Everything. He sprayed it all over everything,” Billy Sonhopper said.
The couple said that, on top of the recent incident, Bradbury has also thrown away their food and cut up their clothes.
“He set our house on fire. He’s poisoned our stuff. He’s destroyed our property. I’ve had to get a new car because he destroyed my old one,” David Sonhopper said.
They noted that they had called law enforcement in the past, but never had much evidence until they discovered the new surveillance video.
When deputies responded to the home on Tuesday, they attempted to make contact with Bradbury, but he retreated inside and refused to come out, deputies said.
Deputies learned that Bradbury suffers from a mental health disability and called a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Mental Evaluation Team to the scene.
After two hours of negotiations, Bradbury exited the home voluntarily and was detained, the sheriff’s department said. He was placed under arrest for willful poisoning of food, drink, medicine or water with the intent to cause injury.
Video from the scene shows gloved deputies going in and out of the home. At one point, an investigator is seen removing a blue can of Raid that looks just like the one in the surveillance video.
The couple says the owner of the home has been trying to evict Bradbury. Given the shocking video, they say they’re terrified of what could happen next.
“It’s been hell living with him the past year. It’s been horrible,” David Sonhopper said after Bradbury’s arrest. “With her health issues, we were extremely concerned. And we’re just tired. We’ve been living with so much stress.”
“We don’t want to be in fear anymore. We’re tired of it. We just want to be safe.” Billy Sonhopper said.
The couple added that they hope the suspect gets the mental health support he needs.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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