By Jannise Johnson
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
NORCO, Calif. — An off-duty Pomona police officer tackled and detained a man after he attempted to rape a woman Saturday morning and then stabbed a retired deputy.
Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies responded at 10:25 a.m. to a business in the 3900 block of California Avenue to a report of a robbery and stabbing.
When they arrived, they found a man suffering from several stab wounds to his hands and legs, according to a sheriff’s news release.
That victim turned out to be a retired Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who along with an off-duty Pomona police officer ran into the business to help a woman they heard screaming for help.
The incident began when the two men who were in a business next door and heard a woman screaming. They ran into the establishment and found the woman manager being assaulted by a knife-wielding man.
When they ran to assist her, the suspect turned on them.
The retired deputy was stabbed several times during a struggle, according to the release. The suspect ran from the business with the Pomona officer giving chase. He chased the suspect south on California and then west on Sixth Street where he tackled him.
He was able to hold the suspect until Riverside deputies arrived.
The suspect has been identified as Gary Michael Olson, 47, of Eastvale. He was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder, one count of assault to commit rape, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
There was no information on whether the suspect knew the victim or if he is suspected in any similar incidents in the area.
Officials at the Pomona Police Department did not comment on the incident because they have not seen the sheriff’s report.
However, the officer involved is a long-time veteran of the department and is assigned to the Patrol Unit, officials said.
The retired deputy was treated at a nearby hospital for his wounds Saturday and released.
Copyright 2009 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin