Police say an officer was stabbed during a confrontation with a group of men Friday afternoon in downtown, prompting a large police response blocks away from the Long Beach Grand Prix.
The incident began around 2:45 p.m. near the intersection of First Street and Pacific Avenue.
A woman who saw it unfold said a man was arguing with a group of younger men and “looking like they were about to fight.”
Officers arrived and attempted to calm down the situation, but “a use of force occurred,” according to police, who did not say what force police used or on whom. At that point, they said, one of the men attacked an officer.
The woman who witnessed the incident said the attacker hit the officer over the head with what appeared to be a rock wrapped in a metal chain. Police said the attacker stabbed the officer multiple times with a knife.
Federal air marshals working security nearby saw what happened and rushed over to help, Long Beach police said.
The officer was taken to a hospital for treatment. There was a visible cut to his forehead, according to multiple witnesses at the scene. Police said he was hospitalized briefly on Friday but has since been released.
“This officer put himself in harm’s way in the defense of others and sustained serious injuries in doing so,” Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish said. “I am very grateful that he is going to recover.”
The suspected attacker was arrested and also taken to a hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. Authorities identified him as Arturo Fernandez, a 44-year-old Torrance resident.
The violence prompted a large and rapid police response, with at least a dozen police cars at the scene blocking off nearby streets.
The Grand Prix, which runs Friday through Sunday, is among Long Beach’s biggest events all year.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to add information police released late Friday night, including that the officer had been stabbed.