Man slams Hummer into San Dimas hotel where family was staying

SAN DIMAS, Calif. (KABC) -- A man intentionally slammed his Hummer into the side of a hotel in San Dimas, crashing into a room where his family was staying.

The incident was reported around 1 a.m. at the Extended Stay America in the 600 block of West Bonita Avenue, where deputies were responding to a family disturbance call.

Investigators said 28-year-old Richard Melendez of Bell Gardens had been pounding on a hotel room door, trying to enter the room where his mother and sister were staying.

When deputies arrived in the hotel lobby, Melendez drove his 2003 Hummer into the exterior wall of the hotel. Officials said he struck the wall six to 10 times, breaking through the stone facade of the building. The car eventually came to rest partially inside the room he was trying to get into earlier.

Guests fleeing the area near that room told deputies that Melendez had a gun, but no guns were located at the scene.

Melendez's wife and four children, ages 1, 3, 5, and 6, were asleep in a room across the hall from where the car slammed into the structure. No one in the hotel was injured.

Sheriff's officials said Melendez refused to get out of the car. Deputies said they had to use a Taser to subdue him and get him out.

Witnesses said Melendez screamed and struggled as deputies took him into custody. Sheriff's officials said he was intoxicated and uncooperative.

He was taken to an area hospital for a medical examination. He was then booked for assault with a deadly weapon and other related charges. His bail was set at $30,000.

Witnesses say Melendez may have been angry about losing money while gambling.

"Supposedly he lost all his money, lost the house and everything, so that might have contributed to what happened," said Mark Kuszewski, a witness.

The Los Angeles County Building Inspector was set to review the property to determine if the structural integrity of the building was compromised.

The incident was under investigation by detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's San Dimas Station.