RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A home invasion robbery suspect was arrested after assaulting a police officer and an extensive area search.
On Sunday, March 24, 2019, at around 3:08 a.m. police responded to an in-progress residential burglary occurring at a house in the 5900 block of Grand Avenue in the CIty of Riverside. When police arrived they learned that there was a home invasion robbery that took place.
The first officer at the scene saw a subject in front of the home with a similar description as the suspect described by the victims. She made contact with the suspect, later identified as Roberto Lopez, 20, of Riverside. As she began to give him a pat down search Lopez he pulled away from her and began fighting. The officer was knocked down and Lopez kicked her several times as she attempted to defend herself. She requested backup as Lopez fled on foot from the scene. The injured officer was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Responding officers set up a perimeter and searched for Lopez who was witnessed jumping several fences. Lopez left an article of clothing that a bloodhound from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department help to locate him. Raven, the bloodhound picked up his sent and located him in brush adjacent to the Santa Ana River Bottom. As officers approached, Lopez attempted to flee, but was taken into custody a short time later.
Lopez was positively identified as the suspect who burglarized the home and assaulted her as he fled. He was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for home invasion robbery and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. He is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
