SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A 31-year-old man who allegedly attacked two San Diego police officers who responded to a noise complaint at his Pacific Beach apartment pleaded not guilty Monday to assault and other charges.
The officers responded to a disturbance call about a tenant playing loud music at an apartment complex on Ingraham Street and La Playa Avenue at 10:44 p.m. on Dec. 15.
When police arrived, Tyler Torres opened his front door and threw his small puppy back into his apartment, said Deputy District Attorney James Romo. And then, essentially without provocation, the defendant attacked the policemen, breaking one officer's nose and giving the other a mild concussion, the prosecutor alleged.
Before running back inside, Torres also told the officers he had a gun and threatened to shoot them, according to police. A SWAT team was called and took Torres into custody after a nearly two-hour standoff.
Romo said the puppy -- which landed on a box or a couch -- was uninjured.
Some residents living nearby were evacuated during the SWAT action. At the same time, officers fired non-lethal pepper-ball rounds at the balcony while Torres swore at them repeatedly, according to police.
Torres is also charged in a separate incident last April 24. In that case, police were called to Pacific Beach after witnesses said a man was kicking at people while riding his bicycle, Romo said.
When Torres was identified, he fought with officers and was arrested, the prosecutor said.
Torres is charged with two felony counts each of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and resisting officers by force. He also faces one count of misdemeanor battery.
The defendant -- who is out of custody on $30,000 bail -- will be back in court Feb. 21 for a readiness conference and Feb. 27 for a preliminary hearing. Torres faces about 10 years in state prison if convicted of all charges, Romo said.
