A 36-year-old man suspected of driving over an officer’s foot was facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon against police officers and other offenses Friday following his arrest in Lancaster in connection with an incident in La Crescenta.
Ryan Alvarez of Lancaster was arrested on Aug. 31 by the U.S. Marshals Service task force, according to Tahnee Lightfoot of the Glendale Police Department.
“Officers arriving on scene were informed the suspect was still located inside the store,” Lightfoot said. “As the officers positioned themselves near the entrance, an officer observed the suspect exit the store.
“The suspect ignored commands given by an officer and a foot pursuit ensued. The suspect entered a white Mustang with paper plates and fled westbound on Foothill. While attempting to evade officers, the suspect collided into a marked police vehicle. The suspect continued to ignore commands while being surrounded by officers and police vehicles.”
Alvarez then allegedly fled “in a reckless manner at a high rate of speed, driving over an officer’s foot,” according to Lightfoot.
“The suspect entered a parking lot on Foothill just west of Boston, abandoned the Mustang and continued to flee on foot,” Lightfoot said.
Glendale police officers cordoned off the area and began searching for the man, but were unable to locate him, she said.
“Further investigation revealed the Mustang was an unreported stolen (vehicle) out of … Burbank,” Lightfoot said. “A search of the vehicle revealed 159 Sunrise Ford key fobs/keys located inside the vehicle.”
Using DNA evidence, detectives identified Alvarez as the suspect involved in the La Crescenta case.
Alvarez is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon against police officers, driving or taking a vehicle without consent, receiving stolen property, petty theft and driving with license suspended or revoked due to a DUI conviction with a prior offense, Lightfoot said.
Alvarez was located at a residence in the 5300 block of West Avenue L4 in Lancaster and was taken into custody without further incident. A Ford Explorer parked in the driveway of the home had been reported stolen, Lightfoot said.
“Alvarez has an extensive criminal history and has served time for gross vehicular manslaughter,” she said, adding that he was on post-release community supervision at the time of his arrest.
The extent of the officer’s injury was not immediately available.