By John Bear
Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT, Colo. — A Longmont officer was attacked and injured after responding to a disturbance at the north Walmart on Thursday afternoon, needing the help of bystanders to restrain the assailant until help arrived, police say.
Cmdr. Jeff Satur said officer responded about 4:30 p.m. to a disturbance call regarding a man who appeared to be drunk and/or on drugs near the grocery entrance of the Walmart at 2514 Main St. He had broken a beer bottle on the floor.
The responding officer tried to speak with the man, later identified as 44-year-old Brian Romero. Satur said that the man then held the beer bottle above his head in a threatening manner, prompting the officer to fire his Taser, which had no effect because the man was wearing a heavy coat.
In what Satur described as a “a rapidly evolving event,” the man threw bottle at the officer and struck him in the leg before striking him in face the with vase. At that point, Satur said, both went to the floor in a struggle.
Satur said that during the struggle, Romero tried to take the officer’s handgun.
He said several bystanders at Walmart came to the officer’s assistance and that they and the officer pinned Romero onto the floor until another officer arrived.
Satur said the officer, who has not been identified, has been with the Longmont police department for about 2 ½ years. The officer was conscious at Longmont United Hospital on Thursday evening with injuries to his face and leg. Police expected him to be released later Thursday night.
Romero suffered abrasions to his face and was also being checked out at the hospital because he had been in a recent car accident, Satur said. He was expected to be taken to Boulder County Jail on Thursday night.
Romero faces first-degree assault, attempt to disarm a police officer and other charges.
“Our officer did sustain serious bodily injury,” Satur said. “Several people came to his aid, and we are very thankful for that.”
He said that police have identified everyone who helped the officer except for one person who left the scene. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Longmont police at 303-651-8501.
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