A Torrance man who allegedly stabbed a Long Beach police officer responding to a disturbance call was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on attempted murder and other charges.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Manuel A. Almada rejected a defense bid to dismiss the case against Arturo Scott Fernandez, who also lost his requests to have Deputy Public Defender Thomas Tyler tossed off the case and to act as his own attorney. Fernandez then repeatedly interrupted the hearing in the Long Beach courtroom.
Fernandez, 44, is charged with one count of attempted murder of a peace officer and two felony counts each of assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest involving the April 17 attack, according to the criminal complaint.
The criminal complaint alleges that he has a previous conviction for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and a juvenile court conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, along with a string of other convictions.
Long Beach Police Detective Juan Carlos Reyes testified that Officer Daniel Velasquez told investigators he felt blood coming down his face and saw a knife in Fernandez’s hand after an altercation between the defendant, Velasquez and a second officer, the latter two of whom were responding to a call April 17 about four men getting ready to fight in the area of the Billie Jean King Main Library at 200 W. Broadway.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security federal air marshals who were working on a security assignment nearby witnessed the attack that was caught on surveillance video and rushed to the officers’ aid, helping to get Fernandez to the ground, according to the detective.
Velasquez — who suffered injuries including a stab wound to the top of his head, two puncture wounds to his upper back and a broken ring finger — identified Fernandez as his assailant when shown a photo of him, the detective said.
The injured officer said the confrontation ensued after Fernandez refused demands to drop his bag and began walking away, despite being ordered to comply, according to the detective.
“All this is hearsay … He wasn’t there,” Fernandez piped up in court about the detective’s testimony.
The judge repeatedly told the defendant to stop talking, warning him that he could be taken out of the courtroom.
The detective noted that a knife Velasquez said was in the defendant’s possession was recovered at the scene, and it had “some red dots believed to be blood.”
In a statement issued after Fernandez’s arrest, Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish said, “The violent actions of this individual serve as a stark reminder of not just the dangers faced by our police officers, but also their continued dedication to protecting our community each day.”
“This officer put himself in harm’s way in the defense of others and sustained serious injuries in doing so. I am very grateful that he is going to recover,” the police chief said then.
The injured officer was taken to a hospital, but was later released.
Fernandez has remained jailed in lieu of nearly $2.3 million bail and is due back in court for arraignment July 22.
He could face up to 100 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.