An assault on Chula Vista Police Department officers with a hammer has left the community on edge after a recent attack that occurred while the officers were stationed at an intersection. The Chula Vista Police Department reported that one officer sustained minor injuries from the incident, which happened around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday at the corner of Brisbane Street and North Fourth Avenue. A loud crash was heard by the officers when the front passenger-side window of their marked car shattered, initially leading them to believe they were under gunfire before discovering a hammer had been thrown through the glass. According to the department's release, surveillance footage showed a man on a bicycle approaching the scene, throwing the hammer, and then riding away.
The attacker has been identified as 29-year-old Luis Ortiz, who was later arrested and booked into San Diego County Jail on charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer, which is a felony. Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy condemned the attack, stating, "This violent act could have had tragic consequences." She expressed gratitude that the officers were not seriously hurt and emphasized that such assaults were attacks on public safety itself. The statement, obtained by the Chula Vista Police Department, highlighted the day-to-day risks officers take to ensure community safety.
Two Caltrans employees who witnessed the attack stayed at the scene to provide critical information and assist the police in the investigation. Their cooperation was acknowledged by the department with heartfelt thanks. The injured officer was treated at the scene for minor injuries caused by the flying glass. Chief Kennedy further commented on the frequency of attacks on law enforcement personnel, underscoring the unpredictable nature of their jobs, even during routine activities such as waiting at a traffic light. "Assaults on law enforcement officers – mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters who show up each day to protect people they may never meet – have become far too common," Kennedy told the Chula Vista Police Department.
The Chula Vista Police Department Crimes of Violence Unit is investigating the attack. It invites anyone with additional information to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or submit a tip through P3tips online or using their mobile application. Tips can be submitted anonymously if desired. For weekend and after-hours questions, the department has directed inquiries to the Watch Commander at (619)476-5374. However, no new information was made available for release as of this media advisory's distribution.
