MENIFEE: Five injured, one severely, during violent attack, pursuit, and crash

MENIFEE – A Menifee resident was arrested after an incident that began when the alleged suspect physically assaulted another man then hit the victim with his car in a Menifee parking lot. After the attack, the suspect led a sheriff’s motorcycle officer on a pursuit that ended when the fleeing man crashed into two cars at the intersection of Scott and Leon Roads in Menifee.

Five people were injured, one seriously, during the violent assault and subsequent wreck.

After the incident, the suspect, who was identified as 52-year old, Eric Darlyn Washington, was arrested and booked into the Southwest Detention Center for a variety of charges.

Washington’s charges included assault with a deadly weapon, assault resulting in great bodily injury, felony driving under the influence, DUI causing great bodily injury, recklessly evading police, and other charges.

The incident began about 3:50 p.m., when deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Menifee Police Station responded to reports of a hit and run traffic collision in the Menifee Market and Feed parking lot at 26035 Scott Road in Menifee, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Jason Edmondson explained in a press release after the incident and arrest.

After first assaulting and then striking the victim with his vehicle, Washington fled from the parking lot, heading eastbound on Scott Road.

“A Motor Officer saw the suspect vehicle exit the parking lot, made a U-turn, and attempted a traffic stop by activating his solid red light and siren,” Edmondson wrote.

Washington refused to yield to the deputy’s lights and siren, at which time a pursuit was initiated.

During the pursuit, Washington drove in an extremely reckless manner, without regard for the pursuing deputy or other motorists.

The deputy chased Washington for about five miles, before the fleeing suspect struck two vehicles that were stopped at the intersection of Scott and Leon Roads. Four people from the two cars sustained minor injuries, according to Edmondson.

According to witnesses at the scene of the collision, the motorcycle officer who had been chasing Washington held the suspect at gunpoint until other law enforcement officers and a sheriff’s K9 arrived, at which time Washington was arrested.

After Washington was in custody, deputies conducted an investigation into the initial attack, pursuit, and wreck.

During their investigation, deputies determined that prior to the pursuit and crash, Washington had gotten into an altercation with the first victim in the Menifee Market and Feed parking lot. During the argument, Washington assaulted the other man before getting into his vehicle and striking the victim.

The victim, who officials did not identify, was transported to a local hospital with severe injuries, Edmondson explained.

Officials have not specified what led to the initial confrontation and assault and no updates have been provided regarding the victim’s condition.

“Washington is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs,” wrote Edmondson.

Scott Road between Leon Road and Briggs Road was closed for about two hours while deputies conducted their investigation.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy Daniel McAuliffe at the Perris Police Department by calling (951) 210-1000. Deputy McAuliffe can also be reached by email. Callers can refer to incident file number ME170730106 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

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.