HEMET: Fontana man arrested after firing gun, attempting to carjack vehicle

HEMET – A Fontana man was arrested by Hemet Police officers on Friday, April 23. The incident that left many residents fearful and traumatized, began after the man allegedly fired several rounds from a handgun near an apartment complex.

After the shooting, the man allegedly fled from pursuing officers, attempted to carjack a vehicle, and fought with officers attempting to take him into custody.

“Nobody was injured in the shooting incident,” according to Hemet Police officials.

One man was arrested after the incident, that brought an overwhelming response from officers from the surrounding area. Officers identified the alleged suspect as Max Enciso, 22, of Fontana. A records check revealed Enciso had several misdemeanor warrants for failing to appear in court on previous charges against him.

Hemet Police officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 100 block of N. Yale Street after the Hemet emergency communications center received several 911 calls from citizens reporting hearing shots being fired at or near the apartment complex.

Upon their arrival, officers quickly learned that three Hispanic males were seen together moments before the shooting. Some witnesses reported to officers that one of the three males was armed with a handgun. Others reported they saw at least one of the three subjects fire several rounds from the handgun.

Shaken witnesses – some who were crying and nearly hysterical – told investigating officers the three had left the complex on foot moments before officers arrived at the complex. The subjects were reportedly seen walking away from the area, heading south on Yale Street. Witnesses provided descriptions of the three males as well as what they were wearing.

Officers and members of the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Gang Task Force converged on the area to look for the suspects. Moments later, with officers saturating the surrounding neighborhood, members of the Gang Task Force spotted two subjects who matched the description provided by witnesses.

As officers attempted to contact the two pedestrians, one of them – who was later identified as Enciso – immediately fled from the officers on foot. The other subject stopped and cooperated with officers. Officers detained the unidentified subject, while other officers chased the fleeing subject.

With officers in pursuit, Enciso attempt to carjack a motorist who was stopped for a red light at Yale Street and Florida Avenue.

Enciso allegedly ignored the officers’ commands to stop and continued trying to gain access to the vehicle from the terrified motorist. Officers tackled him before he could take the victim’s vehicle.

“Enciso actively fought with the officers but was eventually taken into custody,” a police official explained.

Officers conducted a search of the area where they had first attempted to contact Enciso and found a loaded handgun. Witnesses later positively identified the weapon as the one used in the initial shooting incident.

The subject who had first been detained after being seen with Enciso was later released without charges, according to officials.

At the conclusion of their investigation, officers arrested Enciso and he was later transported to the Southwest Justice Center on one felony and 11 misdemeanor charges, including “possession of a loaded, concealed firearm, attempted carjacking, resisting arrest, and several misdemeanor warrants,” a police official explained.

A jail records search revealed Enciso was being held in lieu of $70,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court April 27.

 

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