San Diego

A police officer was confronted by a man with a handgun Friday morning, but the officer didn’t shoot at him when he realized the man’s gun was unloaded.

Charles Alan Altig, 47, of the 5300 block of Javier Street, was arrested on suspicion of displaying a deadly weapon in a threatening manner, resisting arrest and battery on a police officer.

Paramedics responded to a call at 9:30 a.m. to check reports of a man acting suspiciously at Interstate 805 and Mira Mesa Boulevard. The San Diego Police Department was called, and Officer Jorge Penaylillo responded.

Penaylillo, 32, was frisking Altig, when the man pulled out a .38 semi-automatic and pointed it at the officer.

Penaylillo noticed that the gun had no magazine in it, so he did not fire at Altig, said police spokesman Dave Cohen. Even though the gun had no magazine, it still could have contained a bullet, Cohen said.

Altig dropped the gun and ran. Penaylillo chased him, and a fight took place, Cohen said. Penaylillo, an officer for almost four years, was punched in the face and bruised over one eye. After Altig was detained, he was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he was treated and booked into County Jail. Cohen said police found a syringe and ammunition in Altig’s clothes.