HEMET: Man with replica firearm runs from, fights with officers

HEMET – A man with a realistic-looking replica firearm led Hemet Police officers on a foot pursuit through heavy traffic across Florida Avenue before he was tackled by an off-duty Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy and then subdued by several pursuing officers Thursday, Sept. 15.

Officers identified the man as Christopher Lee Mahone, a 27-year old transient from the Los Angeles area.

Officers responded to the 2600 block of W. Florida Avenue at about 1 p.m. after a citizen called 911 to report seeing one man passing what appeared to be a gun to another man. The caller provided a detailed description of both subjects and indicated the two were outside a business.

When officers arrived they observed two men who matched the description provided by the witness who called to report the incident. One of the men, who was later identified as Mahone, matched the description of the person the 911 caller said was in possession of the firearm.

When Mahone saw the officers approaching, he immediately ran from them.

Officers chased Mahone as he fled on foot across Florida Avenue towards Gibbel Park. While he was running, officers could see Mahone holding something in his waistband.

Witnesses at scene who saw the foot pursuit reported seeing Mahone get hit by or run into a moving vehicle, however the fleeing man continued running from pursuing officers.

“An off-duty law enforcement officer intervened and tackled Mahone,” according to a release from the department. After the off-duty sheriff’s deputy tackled Mahone to the ground, other pursuing officers caught up and attempted to detain him. However, Mahone continued to violently resist the officers.

“As officers attempted to overcome Mahone’s resistance, an officer grabbed at Mahone’s pocket and felt a gun,” the release explained. “Officers attempted to maintain control of the gun while it remained in Mahone’s pocket.”

Mahone reportedly continued to fight with officers for about 2 minutes until they subdued him and were able to get him handcuffed.

Officers searched Mahone at which time they discovered the gun concealed in his pocket was a realistic-looking 1911-style airsoft pistol.

Officers arrested Mahone for felony resisting arrest with violence.

After his arrest, officers transported Mahone to an area hospital where he was medically cleared for booking. He was then transported to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

A jail record search revealed Mahone was booked on suspicion of obstructing or resisting a peace officer and felony resisting arrest with violence. He is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail and is scheduled to be seen at an unspecified court Sept. 19.

No officers were injured during the foot pursuit or subsequent violent encounter.

“I am proud of the way the officers were able to end this dangerous event,” Hemet Police Chief David Brown said. “This could have easily ended in an officer-involved shooting endangering many innocent by-standers.”

Video courtesy of Will Whelan / Hemet Valley Incidents

 

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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.