Police arrest man following alleged assault on officer

Information provided by Hollister Police Department. Lea este artículo en español aquí.

Hollister Police officers responded early this morning to a report of a subject vandalizing a local business and ultimately took the individual into custody following a confrontation with an officer.
 
At approximately 5:57 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of East Park Street regarding an intoxicated individual attempting to break business windows using large rocks. Sergeant Bo Leland, who was in close by, arrived on scene within minutes and located the suspect actively armed with two large rocks.
 
Upon contact, the suspect, identified as Julio Mendoza, 46, from Hollister, allegedly assumed an aggressive posture toward Leland. Despite clear and repeated commands to drop the rocks and get on the ground, Mendoza allegedly refused to comply. And it is reported he threw two grapefruit-sized rocks directly at the sergeant in an apparent attempt to cause serious injury. Sergeant Leland narrowly avoided being struck.
 
In response, Leland is reported to have deployed his department-issued taser; however, it was ineffective. The encounter quickly escalated into a physical struggle when Leland moved in to take the suspect into custody. It is alleged that during the altercation, Mendoza actively resisted arrest, bit Leland on the arm and attempted to gain control of the sergeant’s weapons, actions that significantly elevated the danger of the situation.
 
Leland continued to engage and restrain the suspect until additional officers and deputies from the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist in safely taking Mendoza into custody.
 
The investigation determined that approximately $5,000 in damage was caused to a nearby business in the brief period before officers arrived.

Both Leland and Mendoza were transported to Hazel Hawkins Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the incident. Both have since been released.
 
Mendoza was booked into the San Benito County Jail on charges including assault with a deadly weapon, felony vandalism, attempting to disarm a peace officer, and other related offenses.