Atascadero man arrested on weapons charges after fight downtown
Security footage reportedly showed 32-year-old Eric Espinoza Melendez and a female assaulting at least two people
– On Monday at approximately 4:17 p.m., the Atascadero Police Department began receiving calls regarding a fight involving multiple suspects in the area of El Camino Real and West Mall in Atascadero. One of the callers reported that an adult male and female had attacked a group of juveniles and a caller reported that injuries were observed on one of the people involved in the fight.
The fight dispersed and the participants fled the scene while APD units were responding. A witness reported that some of the parties were seen running toward Sunken Gardens and some of the participants were seen leaving in a black Cadillac Escalade.
Officers located the Escalade nearby and stopped it on El Camino Real and Traffic Way. Assisting units responded to the scene and located video footage of the altercation. The footage showed an adult male, Eric Espinoza Melendez, 32-years-old, of Atascadero, and a female assaulting at least two people. Melendez and the adult female were located inside the Escalade. During the investigation, Melendez was found to be in possession of ammunition. A loaded firearm was subsequently found concealed in the Escalade. The firearm was determined to have been stolen out of Gilroy, California.
Melendez was placed under arrest for possession of a concealed firearm and possession of stolen property. He was transported and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail. The female was identified and released from the scene. This incident remains under investigation and additional charges are anticipated.
Anyone who witnessed the altercation is encouraged to contact the Atascadero Police Department at (805) 461-5051.
