Kidnapping leads to battery on an Officer

  According to Angels Camp Police, on June 25, 2014 at approximately 12:25 PM an officer from the Angels Camp Police Department was dispatched to the 1400 block of S. Main Street on a report of a male with two small children walking in traffic.

   Several reporting parties advised that the male was acting irrationally, ranting about demons and hitting passing vehicles as they drove by.

    One passing motorist reported that the suspect broke the side-view mirror completely off the door of their vehicle.

   Two deputies from the Calaveras County sheriff's Office also responded, and arriving officers found the male subject standing in the roadway with the two children.

   The subject was later identified as Soloman Fleming, a 24-year-old Tacoma, Washington resident.

    Fleming picked up one of the children and began running south on S. Main Street in the lane of traffic.

   While still carrying the child, Fleming jumped down an embankment onto Park Avenue where officers caught up to him.

   Officers were able to remove the child from Fleming, per the report and he immediately attacked one of the officers.

   Fleming struck one of the officers in the face multiple times, causing serious injury.  While officers were struggling with Fleming and attempting to take him into custody, Fleming attempted to remove one of the officers baton and pepper spray.

   Fleming was able to remove the pepper spray from one of the officers and a third deputy intervened and was able to assist with restraining Fleming and handcuffing him.

   The children were unharmed and were ultimately released to the custody of their respective mothers.
 
    A passing motorist that saw the altercation taking place stopped to assist with the care of the children.

   The officer and the two deputies all sustained various injuries during the fight with Fleming.  The Angels Camp Police Officer was transported by ambulance to Mark Twain Medical Center and was treated and released later the same day.

   The two deputies sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene. Fleming was transported for a medical clearance prior to booking and was booked into the Calaveras County Jail on multiple charges related to kidnapping, mayhem, resisting a peace officer, removing a weapon other than a firearm, battery on a peace officer with serious injury and child endangerment.

  The Calaveras Sheriff's Office is assisting with completing the investigation into Fleming's actions. and his involvement with the children.