Attempt to exchange info after wreck leads to mom charged with aggravated assault, court docs show

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A mother was charged with aggravated assault after pulling out a gun on a man who got in a car accident with her family member, court documents show.

According to Harris County court documents, on Jan. 1, a man was driving on Westpark Drive when his car was hit from behind by a blue Chevrolet pickup truck with no license plates. The pickup then drove off, fleeing the scene, the documents state.

The man then followed the pickup truck for several minutes in an attempt to stop and exchange insurance information, according to the court documents. As he was following the pickup, a silver Toyota Camry pulled up alongside and cut in between the two vehicles on Addicks Clodine Road, the documents added.

A woman then got out of the Camry and approached the man's vehicle with a 9mm gun in hand, records show. She then allegedly pointed the gun at the man and shouted, "You're chasing my daughter. You hit my daughter."

The woman then demanded his information at gunpoint, according to the documents. The man told investigators that he handed over his information, adding that as the woman walked back to her car, the man fled the scene, fearing for his life.

According to the court documents, Harris County detectives reached out to the woman, who was identified as Crystal Melendez, on Jan. 14. Melendez said it was her son who was involved in a car accident, and that she intercepted what she believed was a pursuit involving her son, the documents state.

Melenedez admitted to detectives that she removed a handgun from her waistband and held it in her hands during the incident, but she denied exiting her car or pointing the gun at the victim, according to the court records.

She told investigators that she believed the man was reaching for a weapon and that she acted out of fear due to prior unrelated shooting incidents involving her family, documents show.

According to the Harris County court records, Melendez is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Authorities said that she was booked into the Harris County Jail on Monday, awaiting arraignment.