Thomas Whalen is seen in this undated photo provided by the El Cerrito Police Department. Authorities say a man shot Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, by an off-duty San Francisco police officer in El Cerrito, Calif., was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the officer with a rock. KTVU-TV reports the officer, identified as Roderick Suguitan, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates. El Cerrito police say Thomas Whalen was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. (El Cerrito Police Department via AP)
Thomas Whalen is seen in this undated photo provided by the El Cerrito Police Department. Authorities say a man shot Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, by an off-duty San Francisco police officer in El Cerrito, Calif., was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the officer with a rock. KTVU-TV reports the officer, identified as Roderick Suguitan, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates. El Cerrito police say Thomas Whalen was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. (El Cerrito Police Department via AP)
EL CERRITO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a man shot by an off-duty San Francisco police officer in El Cerrito was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the officer with a rock.
El Cerrito police say Thomas Whalen was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
KTVU-TV reports the officer , identified as Roderick Suguitan, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates.
Gary Sterman, Suguitan’s neighbor, tells the San Francisco Chronicle the off-duty officer apparently went to investigate a loud banging Sunday night on the gate to their building’s courtyard. He says he heard a loud scuffle and then two gunshots.
Whalen was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
Suguitan’s attorney, Nicole Pifari, says Suguitan acted in self-defense.