Brawl ensues as MPD officer makes arrest

Last Thursday at 8:01 p.m., Maricopa Police Officer Gerrick Ward, working in conjunction with the Pinal County Regional DUI Task Force in Coolidge, Ariz., was involved in a high speed chase and melee with four suspects.

The chase occurred when Ward attempted to pull a vehicle over for a traffic violation in the area of 6th Street and Taylor.

The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued that ended when the car drove up onto the lawn of a residence in the 4400 block of North Palomino Lane.

The 25-year-old driver, Coolidge resident Derek Johns, fled the vehicle and tried to enter the front door of the residence. He fought with Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputies as they attempted to take him into custody.

The passenger, 19-year-old Casa Grande resident Edgar Zambrano, also exited the vehicle and attempted to enter the home, but was apprehended by Ward.

As officers were arresting the two men, 28-year-old Casa Grande resident Rosalinda Ybarra  and 26-year-old Carlos Ybarra came out and joined in the melee, fighting with deputies and officers on scene. Johns and Carlos Ybarra remained violent and threatening even after being taken into custody.

All four suspects were booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on multiple counts of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and other charges.