Kings County deputy injured during arrest of Stratford man suspected of assault

It was at about 7:15 p.m. when deputies arrived on the scene after a Stratford woman contacted 911, indicating that her husband, suspect, Sergio Medina, 34, had cut her property and threatened her with a machete. The victim told dispatchers that Medina was last seen in an alley, near Second Street and Railroad Street.

Deputies arrived on the scene and found Medina in the alleyway with a machete in his hand. The suspect dropped the machete, and the deputy immediately attempted to handcuff Medina while investigating the incident.

Medina, according to the deputy’s report, grabbed the handcuffs and started fighting with the deputy. Both the deputy and Sergio fell to the ground where Medina attempted to strike the deputy with his knee.  During the struggle, Medina pulled items off of the deputy's outer vest carrier, including his hand-held radio.

Additional deputies arrived on the scene and took the suspect into custody. Deputies searched Medina and found a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine.

Suspect's machete

The deputy received minor injuries to his hand and is expected to make a full recovery.

While investigating the incident, deputies learned that Medina and the victim argued. Sergio pushed the victim multiple times and struck the victim on the thigh area with the machete. Sergio left the residence. The victim took her children to safety at a friend's residence. When she returned to her home, she noticed property inside of the residence had been cut up, and she believed Sergio cut the property with the machete. The victim did not sustain any injuries during the incident.

Deputies booked Medina into the Kings County Jail for violation of California Penal Code 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon, California Penal Code 243(e)(1), spousal battery, California Penal Code 69, resisting arrest with force, and California Health and Safety Code 11364, possession of drug paraphernalia. Sergio's bail was set at $50,000.