Man jailed in attack on Round Valley tribal police officer

A Covelo area man attacked a Round Valley tribal police officer and was suspected of butchering five puppies, reported Mendocino County sheriff's officials Monday.

The man also charged a Mendocino County sheriff's deputy who was pointing a gun at him. The deputy switched to his Taser weapon and stopped the man with an electric barb, officials said.

Suspect Arthur Gonzales, 36, attacked the tribal officer after being stopped Friday afternoon for possible drunken driving on a Covelo street.

Gonzales punched and kicked the officer repeatedly, injuring him, officials said.

The officer called for emergency help on his portable radio from sheriff's deputies and the CHP. The nearest available officers, however, were in Willits.

The officer used "pepper spray" on the man but it had no effect, officials reported.

The officer got away from the man to wait for help.

Gonzales then began attacking the officer's patrol car. He threw an old car tire at the car's windows, causing about $400 damage, officials said.

He'd disappeared from the area by the time deputies and CHP officers arrived. They started a search and found him nearby on Concow Boulevard.

A deputy pulled his handgun and ordered Gonzales to get on the ground.

Instead, Gonzales began running toward the deputy, who holstered his gun and pulled out his Taser gun, officials said.

Just a few feet separated the two men when the deputy shot an electric barb at the man, knocking him to the ground.

A search of the area where Gonzales had been found turned up a bloody knife and axe handle.

Officials believe Gonzales had tried to get inside several homes in the area before he'd been found.

At one of the homes, officers found five pit bull puppies bludgeoned to death. They suspect Gonzales killed them. That crime remained under investigation.

Gonzales was arrested on suspicion of battery, vandalism and resisting arrest. He was cleared medically and taken to Mendocino County Jail.