iStock/Thinkstock(SAN FRANCISCO) — A California police officer who was assaulted with a skateboard on Thanksgiving Day is in critical condition, according to the South San Francisco Police Department.
The officer, who was not identified, sustained a major head injury and remains hospitalized, police said Friday.
The incident occurred on Thursday at approximately 2:20 p.m. Pacific time in South San Francisco, after the officer was waved down by someone who was reporting a person causing a disturbance at a local business, South San Francisco Police Chief Jeff Azzopardi said at a news conference Friday.
“Several patrons reported a subject acting aggressively and irrationally. The officer made contact with the suspect, who immediately became confrontational. During the contact, the suspect attempted to flee from the officer,” Azzopardi said. “After a short foot chase, the subject turned on the officer and intentionally struck him in the head with a skateboard, knocking him unconscious.”
He continued, “The subject continued running and was taken into custody moments later by additional South San Francisco police officers.
“The injured officer was immediately transported to a San Francisco trauma center. The officer underwent emergency surgery for traumatic head injuries. He remains hospitalized and in critical condition at this time,” Azzopardi said.
The police chief went on to say that the injured officer is a 12-year veteran of the South San Francisco Police Department, is married and has two young children.
“The suspect has been identified as … 28-year-old Luis Alberto Ramos-Coreas,” Azzopardi said, adding that Ramos-Coreas has a “lengthy history of criminal contacts with the South San Francisco Police Department.”
“The suspect remains in custody at the San Mateo jail, facing numerous felony charges, to include attempted murder on a police officer,” Azzopardi said. ABC News was not able to immediately determine whether Ramos-Coreas has obtained a lawyer.
South San Francisco Mayor Mark Addiego said in a statement, “This is so disheartening to hear of this incident, in a city such as South San Francisco. We are a tight-knit community, with a police force that is our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with this officer and his family.”
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