SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Two San Diego Police Department officers are recovering from injuries after they were attacked Monday night while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The incident then escalated when the suspect engaged officers in a gunfight and an hours-long standoff.
The confrontation happened at about 9 p.m. Monday at a home in the 4700 block of Mt. St. Helens drive in Clairemont, the police department said.
Police received a call from a woman at the residence asking for help and described her boyfriend as being delusional and becoming violent. Responding officers were met at the door by the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Hayden Gerson.
Gerson was compliant and calm at first, then became agitated and made delusional statements towards the officers, police said.
One officer deployed a taser on Gerson, but it didn’t do much. Gerson then punched a female officer in the face. The second officer deployed a taser, it still was not effective.
Gerson punched the second officer, a male, in the face multiple times and also choked him, police said.
The officers were able to separate themselves from Gerson. The suspect ran into his home, then came back to his door armed with a handgun.
The male officer who was punched multiple times in the face and was having difficulty standing and walking, according to police. The female officer saw the gun and pulled the male officer to safety.
The SWAT team was called after the armed suspect barricaded himself inside the home. During the standoff, Gerson engaged two officers in a gunfight in which several rounds were fired.
The suspect exited the house after SWAT personal deployed chemical agents into the home.
A police K-9 officer was dispatched to help subdue Gerson but he bit and choked the dog. Gerson was taken into custody after a brief struggle with multiple officers.
The two officers who initially responded to the scene were transported to a local hospital with scrapes and bruises, they’re expected to recover. Gerson was also transported to a hospital with minor injuries sustained during his fight with K-9 officer.
The other two officers who were shot at by Gerson were not struck by the gunfire.
Gerson was also not struck by any gunfire.
Investigators are expected to remain on the scene the majority of the day to comb through the scene, collect evidence and interview witnesses.
After Gerson was taken into custody, officers did a safety sweep inside the home where they located at least one firearm. They do not know if there are others yet.
*This is a developing story, 10News will continue to update as details become available.
