Crime

Felon charged in street stabbing, assault on Banning police officer

Published January 18, 2024 4:28 PM

A convicted felon accused of stabbing a 35-year-old Banning man during a street confrontation, then hitting a police officer with a brick while trying to get away, was charged today with assault on a peace officer and other offenses.

Alejandro Munoz, 31, was arrested Sunday following a Banning Police Department investigation.

Along with the peace officer assault count, Munoz is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation.

The defendant did not make a court appearance Thursday due to an unspecified medical issue, but Riverside County Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam appointed him a public defender anyway and scheduled his arraignment for Friday morning at the Banning Justice Center.

Munoz is being held on $35,000 bail at the nearby Smith Correctional Facility.

According to Banning police, shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday, the defendant was involved in a dispute, for reasons unclear, with Austin Williams in the 900 block of West Ramsey Street, near Eighth Street.

The agency alleged that during the confrontation, Munoz pulled a knife and stabbed Williams "multiple times," then ran away. However, the victim gave chase, calling 911 on his mobile phone, after which patrol officers converged on the area.

"As officers attempted to contact Munoz, he began to run westbound on Ramsey,'' according to a police statement. "Officers pursued Munoz on foot. During the pursuit, he threw a brick at pursuing officers, striking one of the officers. While officers were attempting to take Munoz into custody, he pulled out a large knife, threatening officers."

The patrolmen resorted to less-lethal weapons to subdue the defendant, who surrendered his knife and went to the ground.

Williams was taken to a regional trauma center for treatment of non-life-threatening stab wounds and was expected to fully recover, police said.

Munoz was checked for injuries and determined to be fine.

The policeman hit with the brick, identified in court documents as "Officer Speers,'' did not require hospitalization.

Court records show that Munoz has prior convictions for domestic violence, possession of a switchblade, possession of drug paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance.