Ex-Con Accused Of Injuring Beaumont Cop Heads To Trial

BANNING, CA — Jury selection will get underway Thursday for the trial of a convicted felon accused of injuring a Beaumont police officer who tried to stop him from fleeing a crime scene, then leading the lawman on a high- speed pursuit that ended with a crash.

Justin Forrest West Montgomery, 37, of Yucca Valley is charged with assault on a peace officer, felony evading, resisting arrest, auto theft, receiving a stolen vehicle, theft, theft of public property and possession of burglary tools.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst ordered several panels of prospective jurors to appear at the Banning Justice Center Thursday for screening as to their availability and qualifications. Testimony is expected to get underway early next week.

About 1:15 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2017, the ex-con was driving a van in the area of Beaumont and Brookside avenues when a Beaumont policeman spotted the vehicle, recognizing it as one connected to a string of vehicle break-ins, at which point he signaled Montgomery to pull over, according to the prosecution.

The defendant told the officer that he had just left a friend's house, but according to an arrest warrant affidavit, the patrolman didn't buy it and accused Montgomery of "breaking into cars."

The defendant allegedly threw the van into gear and it began rolling forward as the officer leaned into the vehicle to take away the keys.

The lawman said he struck the defendant in the head and neck with a flashlight, injuring his right hand and ring finger in an attempt to keep Montgomery from fleeing. The officer was able to free himself, but was clipped in the right leg and foot as the defendant sped away, according to an arrest warrant declaration.

The officer jumped into his patrol car and pursued the suspect for about nine miles, during which time Montgomery occasionally drove in opposing traffic lanes with his headlights off, going over 100 mph, the prosecution alleges. At some point, Montgomery allegedly threw a power drill out of the driver's side window, and the instrument hit the front of the officer's patrol unit.

The chase ended near Oak Valley Parkway and Desert Lawn Drive, where the defendant lost control of the van, which crashe into a light pole, rolled three times and landed in a dirt field near the Interstate 10 overpass, according to the affidavit.

Montgomery was hospitalized with moderate injuries from which he fully recovered.

According to the declaration, "several keys that had obvious shave and grind marks" used to break into vehicles were found inside and around the wrecked van, along with stolen items that included a Riverside correctional employee's ID card.

The complaint against Montgomery includes an alleged April 25, 2017, auto theft in Banning that led officers to attempt to stop him near the intersection of North San Gorgonio Avenue and Williams Street. According to prosecutors, the defendant fled a short distance before abandoning the stolen Honda Civic and running away.

He was detained that morning and told police that he had borrowed the car from a friend, which was later proved false, according to police.

Montgomery, who is being held in lieu of $370,000 bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, has prior convictions for burglary, felony evading and auto theft, according to court records.

— By City Neews Service / Image via Shutterstock