Newport Beach Police: Suspect with knife tossed ‘caustic chemical’ at officers, is arrested after no-hit officer shooting

Newport Beach Police fired upon, but missed, a knife-wielding suspect who surrendered hours after he allegedly assaulted officers with a caustic chemical, sending two of them to a hospital on Sunday, July 7, officials said.

Officers responding at about 2:48 p.m. to multiple reports of a domestic dispute at an apartment near the 800 block of Amigos Way found Pedro Jesus Dominguez Mendez armed with a knife, Newport Beach Police Department officials said in a press release. It said he allegedly tossed a chemical at police, and one officer shot at Mendez.

The suspect was not hit by gunfire, and fled into his apartment, said the release. A SWAT team was dispatched to negotiate with Mendez, who surrendered without incident at about 5:13 p.m.

He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, resisting an officer with force and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, said the release.

Two of the three officers who were treated by the Newport Beach Fire Department for exposure to a caustic chemical were also treated at a hospital Sunday and then released, police said.

One person was injured in the domestic violence incident that preceded the confrontation with police. That person was treated at the scene and released, police said.

Further details regarding the assault and the shooting were not immediately released.

Authorities asked anyone with information relevant to the incident to contact Detective Rick Henry by dialing 949-644-3797.