Posted on 08/30/2014 11:56:06 AM PDT by grundle
LAKEWOOD (CNS) – A deputy was hospitalized Saturday and facing a long recovery after undergoing surgery for “life-changing” injuries he suffered in an unprovoked attack by a 21-year man already on probation for assaulting a peace officer, a sheriff’s captain said.
The deputy was one of two who responded about 8 p.m. Friday to a reported boyfriend-girlfriend dispute at the Lakewood Center mall, Capt. Keith Swensson of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lakewood Station told City News Service.
The deputies separated, escorting each of the parties to the parking lot, he said. While escorting the boyfriend, later identified as 21-year-old Frankie Estrada, one deputy dropped his keys and when he went to retrieve them, the suspect allegedly hit him in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious, Swensson said.
“A passerby said it looked like the deputy was not moving at all,” according to the captain.
Estrada allegedly kicked the downed deputy repeatedly in the head until a good Samaritan came to his aid, pushing off the assailant and shielding the lawman until other deputies arrived and made an arrest, he said.
Paramedics rushed the injured deputy to a hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, with his wife and two young children by his side, Swensson said. “It was completely unprovoked. He was not in custody, they were just escorting (Estrada and his girlfriend) to the parking lot to keep them separated,” he said.
Estrada was booked on suspicion of attempted murder on a peace officer and was jailed in lieu of $1 million bail, according to the sheriff’s department. He is not a gang member but has a violent past and at the time of Friday’s attack was on probation after a conviction for assault on a peace officer, Swensson said.
While the deputy’s injuries are not life-threatening, they “will definitely be life-changing,” Swensson said.
“The surgery was successful, but he is facing a long road to recovery,” he said, adding that the deputy did not suffer a brain injury.
Swensson said he is a senior deputy who has been assigned to the Lakewood Station for about six months.
“He wanted to be the mall deputy. It was a job he loved and really enjoyed,” he said. The deputy’s family released a statement thanking “everyone for the outpouring of support and prayers.”
“We are hopeful he will have a full recovery and be able to return to the job he loves so much,” the statement read.
Assaults
In 2012, of the 52,901 officers assaulted while performing their duties, 27.7 percent suffered injuries. The largest percentage of victim officers (32.5 percent) were assaulted while responding to disturbance calls. Assailants used personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.) in 80.2 percent of the incidents, firearms in 4.3 percent of incidents, and knives or other cutting instruments in 1.7 percent of the incidents. Other types of dangerous weapons were used in 13.9 percent of assaults.
/johnny
Take away his free othugaphone minutes! That’ll teach him.
Lots of jobs are dangerous, and folks do them.
Is there magic fairy dust that makes this more compelling??
/johnny
This scum had attacked a peace officer and was OUT ON PROBATION???
The injured officer should look up which worthless bleeding heart signed off on that probation order and sue him or her for every dime they have.
wondering what employment category has to do with OP ?
Have I talked to you about cutting your local PD budget by 30%? Only you can do that.
I'm working on it here.
This officer wouldn't be in this position if his department budget was cut by 30%.
/johnny
I got it now, thanks. Will think about the ramifications. Very interesting and will mull.
Sounds like Mr. Estrada needs to have a life changing event, it might be horrible if he attempted to escape and was shot dead.
How about a scholarship for the police officer’s children? Anyone? Anyone? Mr. Sharpton? Local University?
As you post your statistics.
Remember that as union city workers, cops are highly motivated to report anything that can be construed as an injury, and seek lifetime pensions and an even earlier retirement than they take.
Can’t be too bad, the perp was unarmed. /s
Good thing he never got a chance to shoot his “unarmed” assailant, or he would be in real trouble with our Attorney General.
Conquerors typically are rather rough at first as they must establish their dominance. After the passage of time Americans will get used to it especially as the recent surrender by Brown of California to the Mexican invaders. Wait until your courts are Mexican, your police are Mexican, your legislature is Mexican and the Executive Branch is-you guessed it you genius you! If alive I will want to hear more babble about “Diversity.”
The creature needs killing.
Sounds like Mr. Estrada needs to have a life changing event
Mull that over. I've got my city council on board to go away from city administrator to strong mayor government.
The cops went a bridge too far.
/johnny
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