HEMET – Man arrested for burglary and resisting arrest after foot pursuit

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Hemet police officers converged on the scene after the reported burglary. William Whelan photo

HEMET – A local resident was arrested after allegedly breaking into a home and leading officers on a foot chase Wednesday, Oct. 5. The arrest and incident began in the 300 block of S. Juanita Street.

Hemet police officers arrested Ellis Smith, 21, of Hemet, and he was later booked into county jail. According to a press release from Hemet PD, Smith was booked on suspicion of residential burglary and resisting arrest. His bail was set at $5,000

The City of Hemet Police Dispatch Center received several 911 calls just after 4:00 p.m. from multiple observant citizens who saw a suspect break into a home.

Officers converged on the scene with guns drawn after the burglary was reported. Robert Carter

Officers converged on the scene with guns drawn after the burglary was reported. Gary Rainwater photo

“The witnesses reported seeing the man, who was later identified as Smith, casing the home for about twenty minutes and then breaking into the home through a window,” according to an official press release from the department. “The witnesses were able to provide dispatch with a description of Smith and updates of Smith’s activities as police officers were responding.”

The first officers arrived on scene within one minute of the dispatched call and quickly located and confirmed that a window of a home had been broken.

Other responding officers began coordinating a perimeter when an officer spotted Smith running south from the home.

A Riverside County Sheriff's helicopter assisted in the search for the burglary suspect. William Whelan photo

A Riverside County Sheriff’s helicopter assisted in the search for the burglary suspect. Will Whelan photo

Officers immediately gave chase. Smith began jumping over walls and fences and running through adjacent yards in an attempt to elude pursuing officers. During the foot pursuit, the Riverside County’s Aviation Unit assisted in the search.

Officers pursued Smith from yard to yard, but briefly lost sight of him in the 300 block of E. Mayberry Avenue.

Officers conducted a thorough yard to yard search for Smith. An officer eventually located Smith hiding in the garage of a nearby home.

Officers held Smith at gunpoint and witnesses at the scene heard officers giving him loud, verbal commands to comply with their orders, but he refused the officers’ commands to surrender. Despite his resistance, Smith was ultimately subdued and taken into custody.

Officers lead Smith from the garage where he was found hiding. Robert Carter photo

Officers lead Smith from the garage where he was found hiding. Gary Rainwater photo

Smith was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance required for booking and he was later transported to a Riverside County Jail.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Hemet PD officials at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.

 

 

 

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

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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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.

Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.

4 comments

  • Only $5000 bail, what a joke he will be out robbing again tomorrow

  • You don’t even know what happened that was a lie he wasn’t trying to rob anybody. People saw a black man walking and freaked out. Try again boo

    • nanu the observer

      The City of Hemet Police Dispatch Center received several 911 calls just after 4:00 p.m. from multiple observant citizens who saw a suspect break into a home.

      why don’t you change your meme name to idiot?