Mercedes Drives Into Los Banos Police Officer

LOS BANOS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A Los Banos Police officer was struck by a black Mercedes early Thursday morning as the suspect driver was trying to make an escape, according to police.

Police say around 2:30 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of M Street after getting a report of a man yelling. Police dispatch also got information that a woman could be heard saying, “leave me alone.”

Officers found a man, named by police as 34-year-old Roberto Maldonado, as he was getting into the parked Mercedes. Officers say they recognized Maldonado as having an active felony warrant. 

As officers approached, police say Maldonado attempted to drive away in reverse and struck the officer with his vehicle. Police said the officer was not injured. Maldonado continued reversing, crashing into a parked vehicle. 

He got out of the Mercedes and was taken into custody; officers say he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Officers later learned that Maldonado had gone to a home to contact a woman he was legally prohibited from contacting under a served Criminal Protective Order.

Officers also said Maldonado was not wearing his required ankle monitor.

Maldonado was booked into jail for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer (PC 245(c)), DUI (VC 23152(a)), violation of a protective order (PC 273.6), and the outstanding felony warrant.

Article Originally Published At: https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/crime/man-hits-police-officer-los-banos/