YPD says man attacked officer with his Taser

Yuma police said a man attacked an officer with a cell phone and allegedly tased him with the officer’s own weapon Wednesday evening.

The Yuma police Department said an officer approached Gilbert Gallegos in the 200 block of S. 9th Avenue just before 6 p.m. and asked him for his name.

Police said Gallegos gave a false name and when asked about his identity a second time, he threw a cell phone at the officer, striking him before running away. Police said the officer chased and caught up with Gallegos, who began physically fighting and managed to get control of the officer’s Taser.

Police said Gallegos fired off both cartridges at the officer, hitting the officer in the face with one of the darts.

Gallegos then began grabbing onto the grip of the officer’s duty weapon, however the officer was able to fight off Gallegos and keep control of his weapon. Gallegos then took off running again, forcing his way into a nearby home by breaking the door.

The residents inside the home ordered Gallegos to leave, and that’s when two officers arrived and were able to get him out of the house.

Blanca Marquez-Lesso, one of the residents in the home, said she was sewing when she heard knocks on her door. She said that suddenly the suspect was in her home.

After a short struggle, Gallegos was taken into custody. He is now facing eight felony charges and one misdemeanor charge.

Two officers were taken to the Yuma Regional Medical Center with injuries and later released.

Gallegos was also transported to YRMC where he was treated and released then booked into the Yuma County Detention Center.