Man struck by car during police struggle

Thomas Gilberto, the Burbank man struck by a car after a struggle with officers, remains in stable condition, authorities said Friday.

An unidentified man struck Gilberto with his vehicle Wednesday morning in what Burbank police called a Good Samaritan attempt to protect officers during a struggle in the street.

When officers responded to a family disturbance call at around 11:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of Evergreen Street, they found Gilberto, 30, of Burbank, in the 1900 block of Hollywood Way, armed with a rifle, Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said.

A struggle took place in and around Gilberto’s car as officers Ruben Liscano and Katherine McDonald attempted to disarm Gilberto, Ryburn said.

During the struggle, Liscano’s sidearm fell in the street and the struggle for the .22 rifle continued, Ryburn said. When the officers gained control of the rifle, Gilberto allegedly made a move toward the officer’s gun.

When Gilberto went to grab the weapon, two vehicles were already stopped on Hollywood Way. One of the drivers thought the officers’ lives were in danger and used his vehicle to strike Gilberto, said Ryburn.

“Preliminary evidence indicated the driver of the car possibly saved the officers’ lives and [prevented] injury to any member of the public that was in the area,” Ryburn said.

Gilberto was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where a spokeswoman said he remains in stable condition after sustaining what police called serious injuries.

Liscano was treated at a local hospital for injuries sustained during the struggle but later was released, according to Burbank police. McDonald was uninjured.

Gilberto was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. He has a history of narcotics-related issues with Burbank police and other agencies, said Ryburn.

Although the investigation into the Wednesday incident is ongoing, Ryburn said there are currently no charges pending against the driver, who has not been identified.

The incident reportedly started after family members who did not want Gilberto at their residence called police, Ryburn said.