A 20-year-old man accused of burglarizing a Riverside home and then attacking a police officer when she attempted to detain him was charged Wednesday with assault on a peace officer and other offenses.
Roberto Bravo Lopez, who’s also charged with burglary, robbery, resisting arrest, obstructing a law enforcement officer and trespassing, was arrested Sunday morning after a foot pursuit that ended in the Santa Ana River bottom. He’s being held in lieu of $150,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside and is slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Lopez allegedly forced his way inside a residence at 5975 Grand Ave., and began rummaging through the female occupant’s belongings, shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday, according to Riverside police.
The victim, identified in court documents only as “J.P.,” called 911, and a patrol officer reached the location within a couple of minutes.
Officer Ryan Railsback said the officer, identified in documents as Tanya Pasco, spotted the alleged home invader walking away from the front porch and ordered him to stop, which he did.
“She began a pat-down search, but the suspect pulled away and began fighting the officer,” Railsback said. “The officer was knocked down and kicked several times as she was defending herself.”
Lopez took off running north onto Old Mill Road as Pasco requested backup, Railsback said. He said multiple patrol units converged on the scene, and officers fanned out, establishing a dragnet to flush the suspect out.
A short time later, Lopez was seen hurtling backyard fences and fleeing in the direction of the Santa Ana River bottom separating Riverside and Jurupa Valley, according to Railsback.
“The suspect left behind an article of clothing, so a bloodhound, `Raven,’ from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was called in to assist,” he said.
The canine immediately picked up the defendant’s trail, leading his deputy handler and officers into the wash.
“As officers approached, the suspect attempted to flee once again but was eventually taken into custody while trying to get through heavy brush,” Railsback said.
Lopez was not injured.
Pasco was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Railsback.