Press release - Assault on a Police Officer

Published 12/27/2009 (all press releases for this day)

DETAILS:

On 12-26-09 about 2004 hours, an Oxnard Police Officer initiated a contact with a man in the 1900 block of North Ventura Road in Oxnard. Juan Carlos Contreras, age 37, fled on foot and the officer followed. After a short foot pursuit, Contreras was tackled by Oxnard Police Officer Guy Hartson. Officer Hartson tried to arrest Contreras but Contreras assaulted him by punching him in the face. During the struggle, Contreras grabbed at Officer Hartson’s sidearm and tried to remove it from his holster. Officer Hartson was able to hold onto his weapon until additional Oxnard Police Officers arrived. Contreras was booked into the Ventura County Jail for two Felony charges, assault on a Peace Officer causing injury and attempting to remove a firearm from a Peace Officer. Anyone who witnessed the incident is encouraged to contact Detective Roger Garcia at (805) 385-7688 or the violent crimes hotline at (805) 982-7070

An investigation is continuing.