Oakdale Police arrested a Ceres man on Friday, Oct. 7 after he shot his ex-girlfriend’s couch during an argument inside a Marquez Court home on Sunday, Oct. 2.

The ex-girlfriend, a 45-year-old woman, reported the incident to police the following day stating when she came home to the residence around 6 p.m. that evening, her ex-boyfriend, Mark Anthony Lovett, 30, of Ceres, was asleep on her couch. When he awoke, he became angry and also appeared intoxicated.

The couple started arguing and Lovett brandished a .22 caliber handgun. He subsequently fired one round into a couch in the living room and fled with the gun.

The woman reported there were four children, ages ranging from 7-13 years old, in the home at the time and no one was injured.

Oakdale Police detectives investigated the incident and on Friday, Oct. 7, went to Lovett’s Ceres residence on Fowler Road with the Ceres Police Department to serve a search warrant for the home and also arrest Lovett. When they arrived at 7 a.m. Lovett was in the driveway and was immediately taken into custody.

Oakdale Police Sergeant Joe Johnson said a search of the residence did not recover the gun and it is still outstanding.

“Officers Chelsie Stillwell and Rocky Anderson conducted a thorough investigation that allowed Detective Don Stillwell to get both an arrest and search warrant,” Sergeant Johnson said. “Ceres PD was very helpful as we were able to get Mr. Lovett into custody safely and without incident.”

Lovett was booked into Stanislaus County Jail for felony assault with a deadly weapon and felony child endangerment. His bail is set at $50,000.