A Torrance man has been charged with attempted murder after authorities say he stabbed a Long Beach police officer multiple times during a confrontation in downtown Long Beach on Friday.
Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Broadway at approximately 2:42 a.m. on an unknown trouble call. While en route, responding officers learned that a man at the scene may be armed, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Police said officers arrived and met a man matching the description given by the caller and attempted to deescalate the situation. At some point during the encounter, police said, the man pulled out a knife and stabbed an officer multiple times.
The officer was taken to the hospital and later released.
According to police, four federal air marshals from the Department of Homeland Security, who were performing security duties nearby, witnessed the collision and rushed to assist. With their help, officers said they took the suspect into custody at the scene.
Police said investigators later determined that several people were involved in a fight before officers arrived, and that one of the people – the suspect – was armed with a knife.
The man was identified as Arturo Fernandez, 44, of Torrance. After being medically cleared at a hospital, he was booked into the Long Beach City Jail on suspicion of attempted murder. Bail was set at $1 million.
According to police, officers said they found a knife at the scene.
In a statement, Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebisch said the attack was “a reminder not only of the dangers our police officers face, but also of their continued dedication to the safety of our community every day,” adding that he was grateful to the federal air marshals who assisted in the arrest.
Homicide detectives were assigned to investigate the incident, which will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office next week.
