Fil-Am SF cop shoots man who is arrested for assaulting officer
EL CERRITO, California— Authorities say a man shot by an off-duty San Francisco police officer in El Cerrito was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the officer with a rock.
KTVU-TV reports the officer, identified as Roderick Suguitan [a Filipino American-ed.], has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates.
El Cerrito police say Thomas Whalen was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
Gary Sterman, Suguitan’s neighbor, tells the San Francisco Chronicle the off-duty officer apparently went to investigate a loud banging Sunday night on the gate to their building’s courtyard. He says he heard a loud scuffle and then two gunshots.
Whalen was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
Suguitan’s attorney, Nicole Pifari, says Suguitan acted in self-defense.
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