Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Suspect in Officer’s Assault Had Long History of Crime

Ronald Arnett Coleman, the Palmdale resident arrested Monday for allegedly assaulting a California Highway Patrol officer, has spent most of his adult life in trouble with the law, according to state parole records.

Coleman, 33, was first arrested on a drug possession charge as a juvenile in 1977 and has been apprehended 15 to 20 times since, although some of the cases were never prosecuted, according to officials.

Although he had been arrested previously for possession of firearms, his record did not involve violence.

“He does not appear to be an exceptionally violent person,” said Hugh Nelson, assistant regional administrator for the state parole office. “The majority of instances are substance abuse and property theft.”

Charges are likely to be filed today against Coleman for his alleged beating of CHP Officer Amy Bonilla, 28, who pulled his car over for speeding Monday morning on the Antelope Valley Freeway, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan Damon.

Coleman allegedly lunged at Bonilla when she attempted to administer a field sobriety test.

A limousine driver and two off-duty Burbank Police Department officers stopped to restrain Coleman, who repeatedly punched Bonilla in the face, according to law enforcement officials. Bonilla was treated for facial cuts and bruises and released from Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia.

Coleman’s adult criminal history includes a two-year sentence in 1984 for receiving stolen property, a 16-month sentence in 1990 for possessing a firearm and a two-year sentence in 1991 for possession of cocaine, Nelson said. Coleman served about half of his prison term in each case.

He was also arrested May 1, 1993, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. As a result, he served about eight months in state prison for violating his parole and two months in county jail on the driving under influence charge, Nelson said.

Coleman is in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail. Damon said it’s possible that an attempted murder charge will be filed against him, which would carry a maximum sentence of nine years in state prison. Coleman could receive additional time because he was carrying a loaded weapon in the car, officials said.