Local News in Brief : Man Accused of Trying to Kill CHP Officer

Authorities on Monday arrested a 21-year-old Reseda man they said tried to run over a California Highway Patrol officer who had stopped him for a routine traffic violation.

Tomislav I. Pozgaj was being held without bail in County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, said CHP Officer Steve Strull.

Officer V. Rossig had stopped Pozgaj on the Golden State Freeway about 3:30 p.m. Monday for following a car too closely, Strull said. When asked for his driver’s license and auto registration, Pozgaj refused to hand them over and threatened to kill the officer, Strull said.

While Rossig radioed for help, Pozgaj backed his black 1984 Ford Bronco into Rossig’s motorcycle, Strull said. Rossig jumped off the cycle and fell down a 20-foot embankment, suffering minor injuries, Strull said. Rossig was not hospitalized.

After witnesses reported Pozgaj’s license-plate number, CHP officers traced him to his Reseda apartment, said Officer Steve Monday. Pozgaj refused to surrender and tried to set his apartment on fire with a blowtorch, Monday said. Damage was confined to part of the carpet and a doorjamb. Officers finally forced their way into the apartment and arrested him, Monday said.

Pozgaj is to be arraigned today in Burbank Municipal Court.