Police Nab 'Armed and Dangerous' Suspect

A suspect whom police had considered to be "armed and dangerous" was arrested Monday night following a pursuit.

Santa Monica Patch learned about the incident after receiving a tip from a reader.

At 8:13 p.m., police spotted the suspect, Randall Terale Meloncon, riding his bicycle on the sidewalk, which in Santa Monica. They stopped him at the intersection of Pico Blvd. and 20th St.

When police questioned Meloncon, who is homeless, he admitted that he was on parole for multiple narcotics violations, according to the . Police then conducted a computer check, which confirmed that Meloncon was a parolee and indicated that he was considered "armed and dangerous."

Police then tried to take Meloncon into custody, at which point he "suddenly turned on the first officer who was about to handcuff the suspect and struck her in the face, before running away eastbound on Pico Boulevard with officers in foot pursuit," police said.

The officer's finger was broken when she attempted to take Meloncon to the ground before he fled.

Police then set up a perimeter encompassing multiple blocks. The Police Department—in addition to the police departments of Los Angeles, Culver City, Inglewood and Torrance—also helped with the search. A Long Beach Air ship was also involved, as were multiple k9 units.

The reader who contacted Santa Monica Patch said she heard a helicopter flying over the area above the intersection of Pearl St. and 20th St. shortly after 9 p.m.

At 11:30 p.m., police eventually found Meloncon hiding underneath a house at the 2200 block of 21st St. He was taken into custody and brought to the Santa Monica jail. It is unclear if he was armed at the time of the arrest.

Meloncon has been charged with assaulting a police officer and causing injury to the officer, among other charges. Bail has not been set for him.

The officer who was injured was treated at a local hospital and has since been released.