A father and his 23-year-old son were charged Tuesday with attacking a Huntington Beach police officer who had stopped the younger man for committing a traffic violation.
Bryce Headrick, 23, and Darryl Headrick, 58, are both charged with one felony count of aggravated assault on a peace officer and a misdemeanor count of resisting and obstructing another officer.
The Huntington Beach residents also face a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting great bodily injury and could face up to eight years in prison if convicted.
Bryce Headrick pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday morning and was ordered to return to court Feb. 24 for a pretrial hearing. His father was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon.
The officer, a 17-year veteran whose name was not released, stopped a bicyclist — later identified as Bryce Headrick — for a traffic violation near Beach Boulevard and Clay Avenue about 11:20 p.m. last Tuesday.
The bicyclist’s father came up from behind the officer and punched him in the head, Huntington Beach police Officer Jennifer Marlatt alleged.
The officer attempted to defend himself with a stun gun, but was unable to do so and was then pummeled by the suspects, who punched and kicked the victim in the head, Marlatt alleged.
A woman who was on a police ride-along got out of the car and shouted at the men to stop, and they rode away from the crime scene, Marlatt said.
The officer lost consciousness during the conflict and sustained a concussion that required treatment at a hospital, Senior Deputy District Attorney Robert Mestman said.
The injured officer got on his radio and requested back-up before passing out, Marlatt said.
Numerous officers rushed to the scene and arrested Darryl Headrick soon afterward in the immediate area, Marlatt said. His son was arrested several hours later, she said.
— Wire reports