A man accused of cutting a San Diego police officer and two men who came to her aid was charged Wednesday with seven felonies, including two counts of attempted murder, and may face life in prison if convicted.
Michael Anthony Gonzales, 43, was riding a bike Saturday in City Heights when Officer Kelly Doherty stopped him on 32nd Street under suspicion of illegally crossing the street, police said.
Deputy District Attorney Oscar Garcia said Gonzales threw Doherty to the ground, stomping her face and upper body, and at one point slashing Doherty across the chin and in the back of her neck.
When citizens Joseph Mejia and Robert Hailey came to her aid, he allegedly cut them, and a third civilian eventually assisted, taking the knife from the suspect, Garcia said.
"Our office as well as the police department, I know, are extremely grateful to the civilians out there that came to her aid," Garcia said.
Doherty used a Taser to subdue Gonzales, for whom there was an outstanding arrest warrant for a residential burglary case, police said.
Gonzales was placed on $1,050,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31.
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The two charges for attempted murder are for suspected acts against Doherty and Mejia. Gonzales also faces three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of battery on a peace officer with injury, and one count of resisting an executive officer.
"We view him as an extremely violent individual who will do whatever it takes to be free," Garcia said.
Doherty was hospitalized with cut wounds and will likely have a permanent scar on her chin, Garcia said.
Mejia and Hailey declined to be transported.
The incident occurred just one week after San Diego police Officer Jeremy Henwood was fatally shot in City Heights on Aug. 6.
