Suspect arrested after allegedly hitting man with metal pipe, Merced police say

A suspect has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a man with a metal pipe and taking items from a home, according to Merced police.

Miles Scott Lamb, 33, of Winton, was arrested Tuesday after allegedly striking a man with a metal pipe during a dispute and stealing backpacks from a Merced residence.

Officers responded around 2:30 p.m. to the 600 block of East Alexander Avenue near Luther Burbank Elementary School regarding an assault, according to Lt. Joe Weiss.

Police said it appears someone at the school called police after witnessing a man in close proximity to the school, asking for help.

According to Weiss, officers located the alleged victim, a 43-year-old Merced man, after he fled a home in the 3000 block of Oleander Avenue and ran toward the school to flag down help.

Weiss said the alleged victim was not on the school’s campus and students and staff were not in danger.

After initially being uncooperative with law enforcement, the injured man directed officers to the home on Oleander, where it was determined the alleged assault had occurred, according to Weiss.

Police said it is believed that Lamb may have been staying at the home temporarily. The two men got into a dispute when Lamb was asked to leave the residence. During the dispute, Lamb allegedly pulled out a metal pipe and struck the man several times, breaking his arm, police said.

Officers located Lamb at the residence and took him into custody, Weiss said.

Police said no other witnesses at the residence were injured in the altercation, however a female reported that her backpack was taken by Lamb.

The 43-year-old man was to Mercy Medical Center and treated for his injuries, Weiss said.

Lamb was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury, robbery and probation violation, according to jail records.

Police said officers did not recover a weapon used in the alleged attack.

This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 4:30 PM.