San Diego

SDPD Officer Injured After Confrontation With Armed Suspect: PD

The confrontation happened Sunday morning at a residential hotel in Hillcrest.

A San Diego police officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after an altercation with an armed suspect in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, SDPD Sergeant Sullivan confirmed to NBC 7. 

The incident happened at 8:54 a.m. Sunday in the 800 block of University Avenue at a residential hotel. 

Police officers responded to the scene after a 59-year-old man, armed with a knife, put a lit cigarette in someone's bag, Sullivan said. 

When officers arrived, the suspect, identified as Gerald Pezoga, was armed with a bench press bar and knife, police said. 

"(He) said something to the effect to, 'officer, you’re going to be sorry,'" said SDPD Lt. Charles Lara. "Mr. Pezoga was immediately Tased, and that led to numerous units being brought to the scene and a protracted fight that took place in the second-floor hallway."

Even after officers used a Taser on the suspect, he took a baton from one officer and attempted to nab another officer's firearm from its holster, police said. 

Officers used a Taser on the suspect again. They were able to eventually apprehend the suspect, and he was taken to the hospital. 

An officer suffered an elbow injury during the confrontation and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Lara said the officer was "bleeding profusely" when they arrived. 

Pezoga was charged with assaulting an officer and attempting to remove an officer's weapon. 

No further information was available.

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