EVERETT — A man who allegedly strangled his girlfriend, attacked another man and led law enforcement on a 42-mile high-speed chase last October, before being shot by sheriff’s deputies, is back in jail.
Daniel Garnica-Melgoza, 43, forfeited his $50,000 bond Aug. 1 in relation to the October case, after repeatedly violating a no-contact order with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, according to court records.
His bail now is set at $250,000. Garnica-Melgoza is charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and attempting to elude police. A jury trial is scheduled for October. He remained in custody Friday.
In the early morning of Halloween, Garnica-Melgoza allegedly attacked his girlfriend at his house in Lynnwood. The woman said the man slapped, punched and strangled her for about 30 seconds, according to court papers.
The woman escaped the house and drove her Chevrolet Camaro to meet up with a friend. Garnica-Melgoza caught up with them and slammed his SUV head-on into the Camaro in a cul-de-sac, according to court papers. He allegedly swung a small utility tool ax at the friend.
Garnica-Melgoza fled when witnesses called 911. After a chase that wound from Lynnwood to Woodinville, deputies knocked his vehicle off the road and surrounded Garnica-Melgoza with guns drawn.
He revved his engine. The deputies reportedly said they feared for their lives when Garnica-Melgoza put his SUV in reverse.
Deputies shot at him nearly 50 times, according to an investigation. Garnica-Melgoza was transported to Harborview Medical Center with injuries, the exact nature of which was not made public.
After Garnica-Melgoza was released from the hospital on Nov. 3, he was booked into jail. He posted bond shortly after.
As part of release conditions, the judge prohibited Garnica-Melgoza from contacting his girlfriend, or coming within 300 feet of her home, school or work place, for at least five years.
According to prosecutors, he violated the no-contact order on at least four occasions.
On April 30, Lynnwood Police arrested Garnica-Melgoza after the couple were seen together near Alderwood Mall Parkway. They were found together again on June 6 at Garnica-Melgoza’s parents’ house in Bothell. “He mumbled something about working things out with her as the two said goodbye in front of deputies while he was being arrested,” prosecutors wrote.
The two were found together twice more at the Bothell home, once on June 17 and again on Aug. 1.
On June 17, Garnica-Melgoza didn’t respond when deputies shouted commands for him to exit a downstairs bedroom. When the deputies forced their way inside, the woman said Garnica-Melgoza told her not to say anything. She said he didn’t threaten or hurt her, but had been calling her and making suicidal remarks, so she agreed to meet with him.
“This is of concern to the state as it is indicative of … manipulative behavior,” prosecutors wrote.
Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.
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