Federal charges unsealed in arrest of man beaten by Alameda Co. deputies
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- We now know the federal charges a man previously beaten by Alameda County Sheriff's Deputies is facing. The US Attorney's Office moved to unseal the case in federal court today. Stanislav Petrov entered a not guilty plea to firearm and drug trafficking charges.
Petrov turned back several times on Friday to look at his mom in court. She previously said her son suffers with PTSD following the incident with Alameda County Sheriff's deputies. The federal criminal complaint unsealed today paints a much different picture of Petrov.
According to the FBI, Petrov is a career criminal who is a danger to officers and bystanders.
On April 1, FBI agents arrested Petrov and his girlfriend Milagro Moraga at a home on Teddy Avenue on firearm and drug trafficking charges. According to the complaint, both are associated with the Norteno gang.
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The FBI says Petrov and Moraga originally weren't on their radar. But during a cybercrimes raid at the home on March 8, Agents discovered the couple in a room with a firearm and more than 125 grams of methamphetamine.
SFPD arrested the couple on March 8, but the district attorney's office discharged the case because of the ongoing federal investigation.
Three and a half weeks later, the feds arrested both.
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That same morning a man was shot outside the Teddy Avenue home.
There's now a growing memorial for Christopher Perez Melo and a GoFundMe page has been set up.
By phone, the victim's brother says Perez Melo grew up with Petrov. Detectives are currently investigating what if any connection Petrov or Moraga may have to Perez Melo's homicide.
"He was just a wonderful soul, he brought a lot of people together," said the victim's friend, Fred Altman.
Back at the Teddy Avenue home, according to the complaint two days after Petrov's March 8 arrest and release, he's accused of beating his ex-girlfriend while she held her 1-year-old. And three days after that, Petrov allegedly evaded San Francisco police during a traffic stop.
Petrov's mother says her son has PTSD following this November incident with Alameda County Sheriff's deputies. The federal complaint mentions the incident without referencing the use of force investigation. Instead, noting that Petrov drove up to 110 miles an hour to evade police that night.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 18. If Petrov and Moraga are indicted before then that hearing won't be necessary. On Friday in court, Petrov's attorney said his client's background is complex.
