A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after striking a Carlsbad police officer in the head with a skateboard, authorities said Saturday.
“The officer was taken to a hospital with serious head injuries and remains there for treatment,” the department said in a news release.
The unnamed victim, a patrol officer with the Carlsbad police, has been with the department since September 2022. He has a total of eight years of law enforcement experience, including with one other agency.
Kyle McCord of San Diego was booked into Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and suspicion of committing a felony while on bond or release. He is being held without bail.
Around 11:15 p.m. Friday, the police officer was driving in the 1000 block of Carlsbad Village Drive, when a rock struck the spotlight and front windshield of his patrol car.
“The impact from the rock-strike destroyed the spotlight and damaged the windshield,” the department reported.
The officer called for a supervisor and pulled into a nearby parking lot to inspect the damage. As he was examining the car, McCord allegedly ran up behind him and struck him in the head with a skateboard, police said.
The officer fired three shots at the suspect as he ran through a parking lot. Meanwhile, the supervisor chased the suspect on Carlsbad Village Drive. Additional officers arrived in the area and took the man into custody three blocks away.
McCord was not struck by gunfire. The skateboard used in the assault on the officer was recovered at the scene.
Detectives were investigating the incident, including the officer’s discharge of his firearm, as per San Diego County protocols related to officer-involved shootings.
Authorities urged anyone with information regarding the assault to call the police at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
– City News Service
