A 33-year-old Durango man who assaulted a police officer early Monday and fled the scene has been apprehended and arrested, according to the Durango Police Department.
Durango Police Cmdr. Ray Shupe said an officer approached a suspicious vehicle with its headlights on around 3:40 a.m. Monday near 500 East Fourth Avenue in downtown Durango.
The officer approached the vehicle, a black 2007 Lexus, to find a man passed out in the driver’s seat. Shupe said the officer noted evidence of drug activity in the car and asked the man to get out of the vehicle.
When he got out of the car, the man – identified as Gerald Garcia – immediately started fighting with the officer.
“It was a very violent confrontation,” Shupe said. “It was an all-out fight at that point.”
The officer lost control of Garcia, and he took off on foot. Durango Police set up a perimeter, but they were unable to locate Garcia.
Garcia, who was considered dangerous, was arrested Monday without incident and charged with second-degree assault on a peace officer, a Class 5 felony. He was also charged with resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Shupe said Garcia was the only one in the car at the time of the incident.
He said the officer was punched and scraped his knee in the altercation. Medical units responded but ultimately felt the officer did not require transport to the hospital.
jromeo@durangoherald.com