MIDDLETOWN — Authorities Friday identified the Middletown man they allege was involved in an altercation with law enforcement that led to one service firearm being discharged the day before in Anderson Springs.
Yolpaqui Hernandez, 34, was taken into custody on suspicion of battery with injury, removing an officer”s gun, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest after the Thursday morning incident.
The skirmish ensued soon after a Lake County Sheriff”s deputy responded to a domestic dispute/civil standby request from Hernandez”s ex-girlfriend, who wanted an officer present while Hernandez moved out of her Rose Anderson Road house, Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson said.
The deputy noticed a machete on the table inside the home, and when he went to move the weapon, Hernandez grabbed the deputy”s arm and “the fight was on,” according to Anderson. The Middletown man was reportedly wearing a knife belt at the time.
The DA alleged Hernandez tried to take hold of the deputy”s gun during the fight.
A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer arrived on scene to assist and also became the target of Hernandez”s attack, Anderson said.
Hernandez allegedly attempted to grab the patrolman”s AR-15. The officer”s department-issued semiautomatic rifle was fired once during the struggle, according to the DA.
The bullet did not hit anybody, and it was not immediately clear whose finger was on the trigger, Anderson added.
The two law-enforcement officials were eventually able to take control of the situation and handcuff Hernandez, the DA said. The deputy suffered minor injuries during the incident, according to Anderson, who did not release either officer”s name.
Hernandez was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and discharged later Thursday, Anderson added.
The Middletown man was booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility late Thursday night with bail set at $150,000. He is set to be arraigned Monday.
The incident remains under investigation by the DA”s Office, which is handling the inquiry because critical-incident protocol was initiated.
