A home invasion suspect injured an officer and fled during an arrest attempt but was apprehended after a lengthy search Sunday in Riverside, police said.
The first officer on the scene at 3:08 a.m. found the suspect in front of a home in the 5900 block of Grand Avenue, according to Riverside city police Officer Ryan Railsback.
When the officer attempted to pat-down the suspect, he resisted and broke free, Railsback said.
"The officer was knocked down and kicked several times as she was defending herself, but was able to request backup as the suspect fled on foot," he said.
The injured officer was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police said that after taking the officer down, the suspect was able to dodge law enforcement personnel by hopping fences into neighboring backyards but in the process left an piece of clothing behind.
A Riverside County Sheriff's Department bloodhound team was called in and used the suspect's scent from the clothing to track him down to brush next to the Santa Ana River bottom, according to police.
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"As officers approached, the suspect attempted to flee once again but was eventually taken into custody while trying to get through heavy brush," Railsback said.
Roberto Lopez, 20, of Riverside and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of home invasion robbery and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
He remained behind bars on $150,000 bail.
