Officer Injured in Tussle With Suspect
A Ventura police officer was injured Friday when a transient hit him in the face and wrestled him to the ground, police said.
Officer Ray Lau was attempting to arrest Martin Salazar Gaspar, 31, on suspicion of burglary when Gaspar slugged Lau on the jaw, officials said.
Lau was further injured when they fell to the ground and Lau struck his knee against the pavement, police said.
Both Lau and Gaspar were treated for minor injuries and released from the Ventura County Medical Center.
Gaspar was then booked into County Jail on suspicion of burglary and assaulting a police officer, police said.
The incident began when Lau, investigating a recent burglary, detained Gaspar to interview him in the 3100 block of Porter Lane.
When the victim arrived to identify Gaspar--who allegedly had attempted to crawl into a bathroom window on Central Avenue--Gaspar tried to flee and the melee ensued, police said.
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