Police Shoot at Two Suspects, One Is Wounded

San Diego police officers shot a man and shot at another in separate incidents late Sunday and early Monday.

At about 3 a.m. Monday, a police officer shot and hit a man who witnesses had reported was swinging metal poles in a vacant lot at 39th Street and Boston Avenue.

When police arrived, they ordered the unidentified man to drop the poles, which he did, said Police Department spokesman Dave Cohen.

“But (he) then went for his waistband,” Cohen said. One of the officers, Rudy Burgess, fired and hit the man once in the groin, Cohen said. The man had a hatchet in his waistband, he said.

The man was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition after undergoing surgery, said a hospital spokesman.

In a 10:40 p.m. incident Sunday, an officer answered calls about a man who reportedly was armed with a handgun in the 4000 block of Menlo Avenue, said Cohen.

Officer Derek Diaz found the man, identified as Casey Metcalf, 24, a short distance away at 46th Street and University Avenue. Metcalf was armed with what appeared to be a handgun, Cohen said.

Diaz ordered Metcalf to drop the weapon but he refused, Cohen said. Instead, Metcalf turned toward Diaz with the object. The officer fired at Metcalf and missed him.

It turned out Metcalf was holding a large knife, Cohen said.

Metcalf was booked on suspicion of possessing a dangerous weapon and drunk-and-disorderly conduct. He was being held at County Jail in lieu of $5,094 bail.