November 21, 2022 - Merced – Matthew Tijerina (23) was arrested for felony assault on a peace officer, felony vehicle pursuit, and felony arrest warrants.
On Saturday, November 19th at 10:15 P.M., Officer Alejandro Arias was escorting a prisoner to his patrol car parked near the 3500 block of G Street. A silver Honda Pilot driven by Tijerina 
intentionally swerved into on-coming traffic lanes and tried to hit Officer Arias while he was standing outside his patrol vehicle.
Officers initiated an enforcement stop and Tijerina led officers on an eleven (11) mile pursuit throughout the city. Throughout the pursuit Tijerina slowed down several times and leaned outside the vehicle and displayed offensive hand gestures at officers.
The vehicle pursuit ended at W. 16th & R Street after officers successfully deployed road spikes which disabled the Tijerina’s vehicle.
Tijerina was arrested for felony assault on a peace officer, felony vehicle pursuit, and felony arrest warrants. Thankfully, nobody was injured nor was there damage to any vehicles.
Tijerina was booked at the Merced County Jail.
Case Number: 22-68178
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Alejandro Arias at 209-388-7705 or by email at ariasa@cityofmerced.org.
Other ways to contact us or report crime include:
For any emergency call or text 911
For non-emergency call 209-385-6912
Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call 209-385-4725
Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html.
Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police.
Source: Merced Police Department
