Perris Valley Pursuit
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A 36-year-old felon who fled from police in a high-speed chase from Riverside into the Perris Valley while carrying firearms and a large amount of methamphetamine pleaded guilty last Wednesday to possession of controlled substances while armed.
Ronny David Melton Jr. of Riverside admitted the felony count under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admission, prosecutors agreed to drop five related charges, including an evading allegation, against Melton.
Superior Court Judge Walter Kubelun scheduled a sentencing hearing for Sept. 9 at the Riverside Hall of Justice and left the defendant’s bail set at $250,000. He’s being held at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. The judge did not indicate a prospective prison term.
According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, on the afternoon of March 17, 2021, a county sheriff’s helicopter crew was circling the Mission Grove neighborhood on the south end of the city when a LoJack signal buzzed, alerting the crew to the presence of a stolen tractor.
The crew isolated the signal to the 14400 block of Wood Road, and patrol units converged on the location a few minutes later, encountering a black Lexus occupied by the defendant and a woman leaving a house over which the chopper was flying, Railsback said.
He said officers signaled Melton to stop, but he sped around the cruiser and headed south.
“The driver traveled at dangerous speeds, with no regard for others, so the pursuit was discontinued,” Railsback said. “The sheriff’s helicopter was then aided by our Riverside police helicopter, following the Lexus as it continued to flee and drive recklessly at speeds through the city and county areas.”
The police spokesman said the Lexus abruptly stopped in the early stages of the chase, and a bag containing “a sawed-off shotgun, two loaded handguns, assorted ammunition and a large amount of … crystal methamphetamine” was dumped along a roadside.
A patrol unit went to the spot and collected the evidence, Railsback said, and the pursuit continued, with the helicopters tracking the Lexus as it went into Nuevo.
“The driver briefly stopped to refuel … even speeding away with the gas nuzzle still attached to the car,” he said.
Deputies took over the chase, trying to convince the driver to stop, at which point he entered the Ramona Expressway, then turned onto Fifth Street and headed into an open field but got bogged down in mud, according to Railsback.
Melton and his female companion, whose identity was not disclosed, exited the Lexus and surrendered. The pursuit lasted about an hour.
A search of the vehicle revealed more meth, “a large amount of money and items associated with illegal narcotics sales,” Railsback said.
Back at the home where Melton had been staying, the stolen tractor was seized, as well as 10 other stolen vehicles, according to the police spokesman.
The woman was questioned and released, and Melton was jailed.
No charges connected with the stolen vehicles were filed in the case due to evidentiary concerns.
Court records show Melton has prior convictions for identity theft, auto theft, possession of controlled substances and check fraud.
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