Santa Rosa police officer injured detaining violent suspect on pre-trial release
A Santa Rosa police officer was hurt while trying to detain a robbery suspect who allegedly violated his pre-trial release and fought with three officers before being placed in custody, police said Friday.
In a post on its Facebook page, the Santa Rosa Police Department said an officer assigned to its downtown enforcement unit was patrolling the area of 6th and Wilson streets when he saw a suspect with a felony arrest warrant for a pre-trial release violation. The suspect, identified as 50-year-old Victor Harker Lozada who police described as a transient, was known to the officer and was on pre-trial release for a robbery charge, police said.
Lozada immediately became aggressive when the officer approached him, refused to follow instructions, and walked away from the officer, police said, stopping only to face the officer in a fighting stance. The officer tried to de-escalate the situation while calling for backup, but Lozada continued to refuse instructions, police said.
Two other officers from the downtown enforcement unit arrived and the first officer grabbed his Taser weapon, urging Lozada to comply or be tased. Lozada again refused and the officer discharged the Taser, hitting Lozada; however, the device had little effect on him, police said. A second tasering also had little effect, police said.
As Lozada backpedaled away, the officer tackled him, causing Lozada to lose his balance and causing the officer to dislocate his shoulder, police said. The two other officers attempted to detain Lozada in handcuffs but he continued to struggle and refuse commands. Lozada eventually complied and allowed the officers to handcuff him, using two pairs of cuffs because of his large stature, police said.
After being handcuffed, Lozada made several threats toward the injured officer, police said. Lozada was not found to be carrying a weapon.
The injured officer was treated at a hospital for a dislocated shoulder and released. Lozada was taken to a hospital for minor abrasions and because he had been tased by the officer. He was medically cleared and booked into the Sonoma County Jail for the outstanding felony robbery warrant, felony threats, and resisting a peace officer.
