A suspect who allegedly tussled with a Hemet police officer for control of a stolen gun found in the man’s car was behind bars today, along with a probationer traveling with him.
Myron Mitchell, 22, of Perris and Keith Allan Bailey, 33, of Hemet were arrested around 7:45 p.m. Thursday during an investigation by members of the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force.
According to Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart, two task force officers were patrolling Florida Avenue when they spotted the driver of a white Mercedes-Benz commit a traffic violation in the 1600 block and pulled him over.
As the officers questioned the motorist and his front-seat passenger, they noticed the driver reaching for a bag sitting next to him, Wisehart said.
The officers told him to keep his hands in front of him, but the suspect refused, according to the lieutenant.
“ Fearing the subject was reaching for a weapon, one of the … officers quickly used a control hold to remove him from the vehicle,” Wisehart
said. “The subject resisted the officer and continued to try to reach in the direction of the bag with his other hand. The officers were able to place the subject in handcuffs after a brief struggle.”
A handgun, stolen during an earlier burglary in the city, was discovered in the bag, according to Wisehart.
“We are very fortunate this incident turned out the way it did,” he said.
Mitchell was booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon, illegal possession of a loaded firearm and receiving stolen property, with bail set at $5,000.
Bailey was arrested for alleged probation violations and carrying a concealed knife. He was also booked into the Smith jail and was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
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