Suspect Battles Banning Cop During Arrest At Fast Food Restaurant

BANNING, CA — A 42-year-old probationer suspected of hitting a Banning police officer trying to detain him for allegedly harassing a woman and her child was being held Monday on $55,000 bail.

Gilbert Nicholas Hernandez Jr. of Joshua Tree was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside Saturday on suspicion of battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest, mayhem, being under the influence of a controlled substance and probation violations.

According to the Banning Police Department, Hernandez walked into the parking lot of the Jack in the Box restaurant in the 700 block of West Ramsey Street about 2 a.m. Saturday and accosted the victims, identified only as a Banning woman and her child, a minor.

Hernandez allegedly harassed the victims, prompting the woman to call 911, police said.

Officials said that patrol officers reached the location within minutes, but by that time, Hernandez had fled.

"He was located in the area of Eighth Street and Lincoln Street and was contacted by an officer," according to a police statement. "The male attempted to assault the officer and then ran from the location. He was eventually caught."

Hernandez allegedly remained combative, causing "an injury to one of the officers involved in the arrest," according to the statement.

The specific nature of the injury was not disclosed, but it was apparently non-life-threatening.

Hernandez was ultimately booked into jail without further incident.

Hernandez has a prior conviction for burglary, according to officials.