Suspect Struggling With Burbank Officer Struck By A Passing Car
BURBANK (CBS) — A passing motorist assisted a police officer by driving into a suspect, who was apparently trying to get control of the officer's pistol, police said.
The officer was attempting to arrest a domestic violence suspect when the motorist drove into the mix, believing that the officer's life was in danger, Burbank police Lt. John Dilibert said.
Police were sent to the 1500 block of Evergreen Street about 11:30 a.m. on a report of domestic violence, but the suspect had fled. He was later found in the 1900 block of Hollywood Way.
The suspect, identified as Thomas Gilbert, allegedly got into a struggle with one of the officers, during which the officer's gun fell out of his holster and landed in the street, Dilibert said.
That is when the driver's car struck Gilbert.
Gilbert was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition. He was also arrested for attempted murder and was being held on $500,000 bail.
The officer in the struggle was also taken to a hospital, but was released after treatment, Dilibert said.
The driver, who police did not identify, was not held.
"We actually don't like for people to get involved like this. They could also be hurt. But in this case it did resolve the situation," Burbank police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said.
Because of Gilbert's medical condition, there was no word on when he would be arraigned, police said.
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