Man accused of stealing loader, injuring police officer in Los Banos
A 26-year old Los Banos man has been arrested on suspicion of damaging private property and injuring an officer with a stolen Skid Steer Loader early on Friday morning, according to police.
Los Banos police officers responded at 12:42 a.m. to a call of a forklift intentionally crashing into vehicles near the area of Mercey Springs Road and Santa Cruz Way.
When officers arrived they noticed a Skid Steer Loader being driven in the roadway by suspect Darwin Corrales of Los Banos. The suspect refused to yield and attempted to drive the stolen loader through a nearby field. Officers then approached the loader and ordered Corrales to stop, but the suspect turned the loading bucket and intentionally struck one of the officers, injuring him, according to a news release.
Corrales continued for about 3.5 miles, damaging private property along the way. He damaged a wooden fence and a metal gate at an apartment complex.
The loader finally came to a stop when the vehicle collided with a metal pole in the 1600 block of E. Pacheco Boulevard.
Police deployed Taser devices and pepper spray were used to subdue Corrales.
The injured officer was taken to Los Banos Memorial Hospital for treatment and is currently at home recovering.
Detectives are still investigating the incident. Corrales is currently in custody at the Los Banos Police Department Jail, pending $140,000 bail.
Corrales is being held on suspicion of vehicle theft, failing to yield with disregard for public safety, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, resisting arrest with violence, and felony vandalism.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 9:46 AM.
