Officer Punched While Writing Report
An Oxnard police officer was nursing a black eye Wednesday after a 32-year-old woman sucker-punched him while he was writing a report, authorities said.
Sandra Babette Stephens of Oxnard was standing next to Officer George Tamayo on South Oxnard Boulevard about 2 a.m., telling him she had just gotten out of jail and that there was a warrant out for her arrest, said Sgt. Gary Chennault, a watch commander.
As Tamayo took down the information to file a report, Stephens, who has a long history of run-ins with Oxnard officers, allegedly cocked back and punched him in the eye, Chennault said.
“It was a cheap shot,” he said.
After a brief struggle, Stephens was arrested. She was booked into the Ventura County Jail on suspicion of battery against a police officer causing injury. Her bail is set at $20,000.
Tamayo had his swollen, black-and-blue eye examined at St. Johns Regional Medical Center and was released.
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