Lakeport Police Officer Attacked at Gas Station, Suspect Arrested After Confrontation

Above: Stock Image

“On 3/8/2024 at approximately 0049 hours, a uniformed Lakeport Police Officer was at the Shell Gas Station in Lakeport making a purchase. At this time the Officer was confronted by Nino Gonzalez, a 44-year-old Hispanic male from Lakeport. Gonzalez entered the gas station and charged at and attacked the police officer. Gonzalez charged at the officer repeatedly yelling that he was going to kill the officer.

In fear for his safety, the officer deployed his taser device on Gonzalez but the taser did not make sufficient contact with Gonzalez to have any effect. Gonzalez continued to attempt to grab and assault the officer and the officer created distance between himself and Gonzalez while radioing for additional police officers. The officer deployed his taser a second time which again did not make sufficient contact with Gonzalez and had no effect.

The officer continued to attempt to create distance between himself and Gonzalez while waiting for back up and Gonzalez continued to charge at and attempt to attack the officer. After these unsuccessful attempts at de-escalation, the officer ultimately drew his firearm and pointed it at Gonzalez. Gonzalez still continued to act aggressively towards the officer and failed to comply with any verbal commands given by the officer.

Backup Lakeport Police officers and Sheriff’s Deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene at approximately 0050 hours. At this time Gonzalez made additional threats to the officers and deputies that he was going to kill them and “blow them up.” The officers physically struggled with Gonzalez but were ultimately able to secure him in handcuffs and place him under arrest.

Gonzalez was subsequently booked into the Lake County Jail on the following charges: 69(a)PC Obstructing/Resisting a Police Officer with violence, 422(a)PC Criminal Threats, 241(c)PC Assault on a police officer, 71(a)(1)PC threatening a public official, 148(a)(1)PC obstructing or resisting a police officer, and 11377(a)HS possession of a controlled substance.

This is not the first time Gonzalez has been arrested for assaulting or obstructing Lakeport Police Officers. Gonzalez has 4 prior arrests with our agency in which he either attacked or failed to comply with orders given to him by Lakeport Police Officers.

Lakeport Police Officers, believing Gonzalez to be a significant threat to public safety, later applied for a bail enhancement which was granted by a Lake County Superior Court Judge. Gonzalez’s bail was set at $150,000.

NOTE: The image attached to this press release is a screen capture of body worn camera from the incident from one of the responding officers not a booking photo.”