A Riverside police officer was minorly injured as officers responded to a possible mental health crisis near University Avenue and Dwight Avenue on Wednesday, Dec. 17, evening, according to the Riverside Police Department.
Just after 6 p.m., the officer was injured and transported to a hospital and a suspect was detained, Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback said. How the officer was injured and details about what the suspect was doing when police responded to the call were not immediately available. Video from the scene showed an officer and another person being loaded into ambulances.
University Avenue was closed in all directions between Kansas Avenue and Ottawa Avenue for the investigation and police expected it to remain closed for several hours. The area is east of the 91 Freeway and west of the 215 Freeway.
Guests at a hotel across the street reported seeing a man jumping on top of cars on University Avenue and hearing what sounded like a gunshot.
Susan Waller told freelance video news group OnScene.TV that she was at the hotel when she and a friend heard noises coming from outside and saw a man jumping on top of the hood of a car.
“He started running down the middle, (of the street) screaming and yelling and stuff and then about five minutes later we heard a gunshot,” she said. “Next thing I know, there was police everywhere.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
