Lakeport man arrested for attacking police officer
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Police have taken a man into custody for attacking a Lakeport Police officer.
Nino Gonzalez, 44, was arrested early Thursday morning, the Lakeport Police Department reported.
At approximately 12:49 a.m. Thursday, a uniformed Lakeport Police officer was at the Shell Gas Station in Lakeport making a purchase when he was confronted by Gonzalez. Police said Gonzalez entered the gas station and charged at and attacked the police officer.
Gonzalez charged at the officer repeatedly yelling that he was going to kill the officer, police said.
In fear for his safety, police said the officer deployed his taser device on Gonzalez but the taser did not make sufficient contact with Gonzalez to have any effect. Gonzalez continued to attempt to grab and assault the officer and the officer created distance between himself and Gonzalez while radioing for additional police officers.
Police said the officer deployed his taser a second time which again did not make sufficient contact with Gonzalez and had no effect.
The officer continued to attempt to create distance between himself and Gonzalez while waiting for backup and Gonzalez continued to charge at and attempt to attack the officer, police said.
After these unsuccessful attempts at deescalation, the officer ultimately drew his firearm and pointed it at Gonzalez. Police said Gonzalez still continued to act aggressively towards the officer and failed to comply with any verbal commands given by the officer.
Backup Lakeport Police officers and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene at approximately 12:50 a.m. At that time, police said Gonzalez made additional threats to the officers and deputies that he was going to kill them and “blow them up.”
The officers physically struggled with Gonzalez but were ultimately able to secure him in handcuffs and place him under arrest, police said.
Gonzalez was subsequently booked into the Lake County Jail for obstructing/resisting a police officer with violence, criminal threats, assault on a police officer, threatening a public official, obstructing or resisting a police officer and possession of a controlled substance.
Police said this is not the first time Gonzalez has been arrested for assaulting or obstructing Lakeport Police officers. Gonzalez has four prior arrests with the agency in which he either attacked or failed to comply with orders given to him by Lakeport Police officers.
Lakeport Police officers, believing Gonzalez to be a significant threat to public safety, later applied for a bail enhancement which was granted by a Lake County Superior Court judge. Gonzalez’s bail was set at $150,000, jail records showed.