By Rick Hurd
Contra Costa Times
A homeless man turned a potential warning about bicycle safety into a string of charges this week when he first nearly ran into a police officer’s car, fled when the officer tried to pull him over and then bit the officer’s hand after a pursuit, police said.
Matthew Villanueva, 42, also is accused of punching a good Samaritan who tried to assist the officer during a brief foot pursuit.
He remained in custody Tuesday at Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of battery on an officer and a citizen, assault, resisting an officer, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, Livermore police Officer Steve Goard said.
The officer who corralled Villanueva was treated for the bite to his hand and cleared to resume work, Goard said. Police declined to identify him.
The officer was on regular patrol about 10:45 p.m. Monday when he nearly collided with Villanueva in the 200 block of Western Avenue, Goard said. Villanueva was wearing dark clothing and his bike did not have reflectors when he darted out in front of the police vehicle on a pitch-black road, Goard said.
“So it’s a clear violation, and the officer decides he’s going to pull him over and warn him,” Goard said. “The suspect proceeds to do everything you’re not supposed to do.”
Police said Villanueva sped up on his bike, then ditched it when the officer followed him. At that point, Goard said, Villanueva ran into a 44-year-old man who tried to intercede and punched him several times.
That encounter allowed the officer to catch Villanueva, and the passer-by, whom police did not identify, helped the officer subdue Villanueva. During the struggle, Goard said, Villanueva bit the officer.
“The officer was screaming, ‘Stop biting, stop biting,’ ” Goard said. “The suspect was very combative through the arrest and through the whole booking process.”
Villanueva was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries before being booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Copyright 2012 Contra Costa Newspapers