VICTORVILLE — A 38-year-old Victorville man with a history of brushes with the law is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 1 for allegedly resisting, fleeing and fighting with deputies after authorities said he attempted to break into a home.
Damion Marque Riley was arrested July 28 after a resident in the 15000 block of Desert Springs Drive called authorities shortly after midnight to report someone outside his door trying to get inside, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Burgess said.
Allegedly under the influence of PCP or a similar substance, Riley rang the doorbell and was fidgeting with the doorknob before the resident pulled a shotgun on him and ordered him to lay on the ground until deputies arrived, Burgess said.
After initially complying with directions to stay on the ground, Riley changed his mind when deputies drove up to the scene, according to Burgess, fleeing to his nearby white sedan and speeding off toward Tawney Ridge Lane.
Burgess said Riley attempted to crash into one of the pursuing patrol vehicles, forcing the deputy to veer onto the sidewalk to avoid being hit.
"He actually tried to kill one of our deputies by ramming them with his car," Burgess said.
Riley then stopped the vehicle after a short chase and got out to run before falling down, and at that point "decided he wanted to fight," according to Burgess. "The subject was shouting he had a gun and he was going to shoot the deputies as well."
Burgess said Riley was drive-stunned before being taken into custody, and allegedly fought deputies not only at the scene but at a nearby hospital as well.
"It's unfortunate that people choose to take unjust substances," Burgess said, "then their behavior is just eratic, unpredictable and violent."
Yet Riley on Monday disputed the incident as portrayed by authorities. Speaking to the Daily Press by phone from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he said he will undergo facial reconstructive surgery Tuesday morning, Riley claimed he was assaulted after a traffic stop.
Riley has large bruising around his eyes, which appear swollen, in a picture taken at the hospital and provided by his sister, LaShaundra Alexander.
"I don't even really understand what happened," Riley said. "I read the report that (authorities) gave me. I was driving down the street, they pulled me over, I pulled over and they started telling me to get on the ground. I asked them, 'what did I do?'"
Riley acknowledged giving deputies "a little attitude" after he said he wasn't offered an explanation, but denied trying to hurt or attack them. He claimed he was forcibly yanked from the vehicle and blacked out on two occasions during the incident, admitting at one point he "tried to get away from them."
He also said he didn't have the opportunity to provide his license or registration before the altercation happened.
"I basically woke up three days later," he said. "I was wondering why they were being so violent towards me."
He denied being under the influence of drugs or trying to break into anyone's home. He also said he will require titanium plates in his face as a result of injuries he sustained.
Asked about his lengthy history of run-ins with authorities, however, Riley claimed he has essentially been targeted.
He has been charged in this incident with assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety — both felonies, court records show.
He was previously convicted of felony assault in April 2012 and misdemeanor disturbing the peace in August 2009. He was sentenced to two years in prison for the assault charge, but was credited for 172 days of time served and good behavior and had been eligible for an additional conduct credit to cut his sentence in half.
Additionally, he's had several other charges dismissed since 1999, including battery on a peace officer and being under the influence of a controlled substance, court records show.
"I keep on going through this stuff with this county," he said. "It's got me scared to live out there anymore."
At least five deputies responded to the scene July 28, Burgess said, adding that Riley even admitted then to being under the influence of PCP or a similar substance.
Burgess said anytime deputies are involved in a use-of-force incident, the department conducts an investigation to determine whether the level of force was reasonable.
Alexander, who wasn't present during the incident, said she believed deputies could have handled the matter with her brother differently.
"Even if he was in the wrong, you have a taser, you have pepper spray," she said. "There was no need to beat him to the point where he needs facial reconstruction. That's ridiculous. That's overboard."
Riley posted bail July 31 and said he is seeking a lawyer.