Enrique Arellano, DOB: 12-29-93, pled guilty to First Degree Assault (F3), leaving the Scene of an Accident with SBI (F4), and a Crime of Violence count for hitting a police agent as he attempted to elude law enforcement in a stolen car.
In May, 2018 Lakewood police agents identified a stolen car, a Suburu, in the parking lot of Crossland Economy Suites, at 715 Kipling. They then observed a male (Arellano) and a female (codefendant Arlita Flores) walking towards the stolen car. Additional police agents arrived, with emergency equipment activated.
Police gave Arellano verbal commands to get out of the car, which he ignored. Arellano then accelerated as he pulled the Suburu out of the parking space and began to drive out of the lot at a high rate of speed. A police agent in the parking lot was attempting to put his K9 partner on a leash when he was hit by the Suburu. The agent was thrown over the car and suffered a significant head injury. Arellano continued around the parking lot until he crashed into a parked car. Arellano and Flores fled on foot. She was captured a short time later. Following an extensive search Arellano was located about six hours later, hiding in a residential trash can.
Arellano pled guilty on October 1. Sentencing has been set for November 16. He faces a mandatory 10 years in prison up to 44 years.
Codefendant Arlita Flores pled guilty on August 27 to Accessory to a Crime (F6). She will be sentenced on October 29. 