Parolee back behind bars after battling authorities in Salida

A recent parolee faces charges including assault and battery on a peace officer after a confrontation in Salida on Wednesday night.

About 10:30 p.m., a Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputy observed a suspicious person in the area of Escamilla Avenue and Driftwood Drive and made contact. The man threw a bottle at the deputy, said Sgt. Jon McQueary.

The deputy tried to take the man, David Edward Escamilla, into custody. Escamilla is a known parolee arrested numerous times by deputies, McQueary said.

Escamilla fled and armed himself with a stick. Approached again by the deputy, he fled into his Driftwood Drive residence and barricaded himself inside, McQueary said.

Modesto police responded to the scene to assist the Sheriff’s Department. Escamilla’s family members came out of the house and gave authorities permission to enter. Several public-address calls were made to Escamilla, who opened the front door, refused to cooperate, yelled and shut the door, McQueary said.

A Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit officer also came on scene. Deputies forced the front door open and sent in the dog. But Escamilla was hiding behind the door, McQueary said, and when the dog ran through the entry, the suspect quickly ran out the front door and began to assault the K-9 handler.

A Modesto police officer used a beanbag gun to help subdue Escamilla, and the dog came back out of the house and bit the suspect, McQueary said.

The deputy who initiated contact with Escamilla was treated for a hand injury and released. The K-9 handler suffered only scrapes and bruises fighting with Escamilla.

Escamilla, 30, was treated at a local hospital before being booked into the Stanislaus County jail, where he was being held without bail Thursday morning.

He was booked on charges of resisting arrest, battery on a peace officer, brandishing a weapon and violating parole.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Parolee back behind bars after battling authorities in Salida."