A Torrance man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a Long Beach police officer multiple times with a folding knife while the officer and his partner responded to a call near the Billy Jean King Library last week, authorities said.
Arturo Scott Fernandez, 44, faces one count of attempted murder of a peace officer, two counts of assault on a peace officer, and two counts of resisting an executive officer, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
He faces 100 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged.
“Officers respond to calls for service daily expecting to help residents in need,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “Their goal is straightforward: to protect and serve. In carrying out their duties, they don’t expect to become victims themselves.”
Officers were responding to the call, of a possibly armed man that turned out to be Fernandez, authorities said, near Pacific Avenue and First Street, at about 2:20 p.m. on Friday, April 17.
They spoke with Fernandez, but he refused to comply with their commands, officials said.
The officers tried to physically detain Fernandez, but he allegedly grabbed one of the officers and began stabbing him in the head and torso with the folding knife, the District Attorney’s Office said.
The officers continued to attempt to detain Fernandez and soon received help from two federal air marshals who saw the events unfolding and intervened, officials said.
Fernandez was taken into custody, and the officer was taken to a hospital for non-life threatening injuries and released.
Fernandez remained in jail on a bail amount of more than $2 million as of Friday, April 24.