The man accused of running down a San Diego Police officer with a patrol car answered to charges in court Friday.
William Frank Bogard, 25, entered a not guilty plea to charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, vehicle theft, burglary and two counts of attempted murder on a peace officer. He was ordered to be held on $1 million bail.
The prosecution said Bogard had been "acting strangely" outside a residence in the 3600 block of Main Street in Barrio Logan Tuesday night and the occupants called the police. After leaving for a few minutes, he came back and broke the window of the house, came inside and "threatened to assault and kill" the people inside, they said.
Officer Jeremy Swett was one of the responding officers and was interviewing witnesses when he was struck by his own patrol car, police said.
Prosecutors claim Bogard got into the vehicle and continued accelerating with the officer still on the hood.
Like a scene from an action flick, the Ford Explorer came to rest suspended partly in the air, hanging from a wire on a power pole.
"The police car is standing up on a cable wire," said Felipe Hernandez, a local business owner who witnessed the action. "It's just something from the movies. Unreal."
Swett, a 25-year-veteran officer, fell from the hood of the SUV and suffered what were described as "serious, serious" injuries. He is still at UCSD Medical Center and is expected to survive, according to police.
Bogard suffered a single non-life threatening gunshot wound to the waist by a second officer on the scene. A canine officer helped take Bogard into custody and he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
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As to how the suspect gained access to the patrol SUV, an official statement said Swett had gotten out of the patrol vehicle and "stayed near the vehicle as he assisted with the investigation."
Shortly after the incident, NBC 7 learned of a restraining order filed in 2011 by Bogard's mother. In it she writes her son "...has been suffering from bipolar disorder since he was a teenager...is supposed to be on medication, but doesn't take it."
The order also says, "William has threatened me and I fear going home and having William hurt me."
The request was granted, but expired last October.
Bogard is expected back in court for a status hearing Jan. 23. If convicted, he faces 19 years to life in prison.
