March 25, 2023 - Fresno Police Department officials reported that in the early hours of Friday, December 23, 2022, officers from the Fresno Police Department responded to a disturbance between a man and a woman at the 7-Eleven in the 2300 block of South Chestnut Avenue. The caller said that a woman was hiding inside the store after her boyfriend had assaulted her, and the attacker was driving around near the store. The girlfriend escaped the car without her boyfriend knowing and hid inside the store after asking employees and customers to call the police. When officers arrived, they saw the male suspect in the driver’s seat of a car parked in a stall in front of the store. The driver was later identified as 37-year-old Michael Alvarez.

Two officers approached the car and gave Mr. Alvarez repeated commands to turn off his vehicle and exit the car. A third officer positioned his patrol car behind Mr. Alvarez’s vehicle. Mr. Alvarez failed to comply with the officers’ repeated commands and abruptly put his car in reverse, backed up, and struck one of the officers as she stood next to the driver-side door. The second officer was also nearly struck by Mr. Alvarez’s vehicle. Mr. Alvarez’s vehicle collided with the third officer’s patrol car while the officer was still seated inside.

The third officer exited his patrol car and gave additional commands to Mr. Alvarez to stop. Mr. Alvarez failed to comply and drove his vehicle forward toward the other two officers and the store where customers were inside. Mr. Alvarez reversed again, driving towards the third officer. This officer discharged his service weapon, striking Mr. Alvarez once. Mr. Alvarez drove forward and struck a parked car occupied by a driver who was two months pregnant. Officers removed Mr. Alvarez from his vehicle and immediately began to render medical aid. Mr. Alvarez was transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition. He was arrested and charged with Felony Domestic Violence, three counts of Felony Assault on a Police Officer, Felony Assault with a deadly weapon, and Post Release Community Supervision violation.

“Domestic violence incidents are inherently dangerous. This case highlights the potential dangers of these cases. I am thankful for the clerk at the business who reacted quickly by calling 9-1-1 for the victim, and thankful our officers were able to arrive quickly to prevent any further injuries to the victim, as well as bystanders.” - Chief Paco Balderrama

Video link: https://youtu.be/UvpFzTjXOhY.

Source: Fresno Police Department