Menifee man arrested after assault, police chase, crash

This is an update to a story originally reported on March 14:

A Menifee man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, evading police and DUI after a police chase that ended in a multi-vehicle collision in east Menifee on Tuesday, authorities said.

Eric Darlyn Washington is accused of assaulting a male in the parking lot of Menifee Market on Scott Road near Murrieta Road about 3:50 p.m. that day, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. The suspect then got in his vehicle and assaulted the male again with his vehicle, police said. The suspect fled eastbound on Scott Road and was seen by a motor officer who witnessed him leave the parking lot. He gave chase.

The suspect failed to yield to a flashing red light and siren and other officers joined the chase. Just west of the intersection of Scott Road and Leon Road, the suspect's vehicle crashed into two vehicles that were stopped at the four-way intersection. Four victims involved in that collision sustained minor injuries.

The suspect was taken into custody at the location and Scott Road was closed for about two hours during the investigation. The male assaulted in the Menifee Market parking lot was transported to a local hospital with severe injuries.