CHP officer stabbed on La Sierra overpass

News headline from the Riverside Police Department:

On Thursday, October 25, 2012, at about 9:51 p.m., The California Highway Patrol received a 9-1-1 call about a man climbing the fence of the freeway overpass on La Sierra Avenue at SR91 in the City of Riverside.

The caller believed the man was going to jump onto the freeway.

A CHP officer arrived shortly after being dispatched. The suspect, Javier Hernandez Rios, 45, of Riverside, started climbing the fence when the officer arrived and the officer ran up to him and grabbed his legs in an attempt to keep the man from jumping onto the freeway from the overpass.

The suspect produced a knife and began stabbing the officer in the back and face. Despite being repeatedly stabbed, the officer held onto the suspect’s legs in order to prevent him from jumping. At about this same time, an off-duty Riverside Police officer and an off-duty San Bernardino County Sheriff’s sergeant were passing by in separate vehicles. Both stopped to assist the CHP officer.

The suspect tried to stab the off-duty officers in an attempt to keep them away. The struggle continued for several minutes and ended when a second CHP officer arrived and hit the suspect with a less lethal projectile. The suspect stopped resisting and was handcuffed.

Medical aid was summoned for the officer and suspect. Paramedics from the Riverside Fire Department and American Medical Response (AMR) treated both of them at the scene and transported them to a local hospital. The suspect was treated and released for minor injuries sustained in the altercation.

The CHP officer sustained multiple stab wounds to his back, arms and face as well as one of his eyes. The CHP officer was transferred to a hospital in San Bernardino County for specialized treatment of the eye injury. The injuries to the officer are not life threatening.

Detectives from the Robbery / Homicide Unit and a technician from the Forensic Unit responded and are currently investigating this crime.

Javier Hernandez Rios will be booked for Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer and Mayhem in regards to the CHP officer. He is also being charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer for the attempted stabbing of the off-duty officers.

Filed under Neighborhood