Suspect Allegedly Goes for Hemet Officer's Gun During Struggle

A man suspected of attempting to disarm a Hemet police officer who was arresting him for alleged check fraud was being held Friday in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Carleton Alvin Emerich, 49, was taken into custody Thursday night after a tussle with officers in the 1200 block of Florida Avenue.

According to Hemet police, an officer was sent to a check-cashing business around 5:35 p.m. to investigate reports of a man and woman attempting to cash a forged check.

The officer encountered Emerich and 24-year-old Amanda Marie Dunaway, both of Arizona, and began questioning them, police said.

Emerich allegedly tried to bolt from the location, leading to a struggle between the suspect and officer.

“As the officer was attempting to detain Emerich, the suspect attempted to pull the officer’s duty weapon from his holster,” according to a Hemet Police Department statement. “The officer immediately reacted and was able to subdue and detain the suspect as other officers arrived.”

No one was injured.

Police allege the two suspects had stolen a check from a nearby medical office and were attempting to cash it.

Emerich was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of attempting to remove a peace officer’s firearm and resisting arrest, both felonies.

Dunaway was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of burglary and receiving stolen property. She is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

— City News Service.