A Los Angeles man was behind bars in northern San Diego County Wednesday on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and trying to wrest away the lawman’s stun gun during a scuffle near Oceanside Pier.

Christopher Barrios, 34, allegedly was tampering with city electrical equipment in the area of Tyson Street Park when the officer contacted him shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oceanside Police spokesman Ryan Keim said.

Barrios gave the patrolman a false name, then suddenly attacked him and tried to pull his electric stun gun out of its holster, Keim alleged. Following a struggle that lasted about five minutes, a second officer arrived, and the suspect fled.

Barrios ran several blocks to an apartment complex in the 100 block of South Myers Street, where he barricaded himself inside a laundry room, according to police.

During an ensuing standoff, officers fired pepper-spray projectiles into the room where the suspect was holed up. Barrios refused to surrender for about an hour before finally exiting and getting arrested, Keim said.

Barrios was treated for minor injuries at Tri-City Medical Center and then booked into county jail in Vista on suspicion of assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest.

The patrolman allegedly assaulted by the suspect did not require medical treatment, Keim said.

Barrios was being held on $20,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

—City News Service

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