Crime & Safety

Suspect Named in Belmont Shore Officer Attack

Though arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of an officer and resisting arrest, Kameron Branch, 23, was only charged with assault with a deadly weapon in the Sunday night scuffle.

The Long Beach Police Department identified the suspect arrested after an alleged Sunday night fight and subsequent attack on a responding officer as Kameron Branch, 23, of Long Beach.

The upshot of the 10:12 p.m. dispute between two males on First Street near Roswell Avenue, said police spokeswoman Lisa Massacani, was that Branch allegedly struck another man with a skateboard, and was in a fight reported to police.

The Long Beach police officer arrived and approached the skateboard-wielding male, who "refused the commands of the officer and became combative," Massacani wrote in an e-mail response to Patch on the incident. "Back-up units arrived as the suspect was in the process of assaulting the officer, and they effectively took him into custody. The officer and the suspect's injuries are non-life threatening.

"The District Attorney's Office has filed one count of 245(c) PC (Assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury) against the suspect."

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With news late Monday about the case, Massacani said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, battery of a police officer, resisting/obstructing arrest, and for outstanding warrants, which were not detailed. Due to the ongoing investigation, Massacani said, the suspect was not named and details were limited.

told Patch Sunday night that he'd seen from outside his front door a very intoxicated man fighting with another male, then turning on the Long Beach officer as he spoke to calm him and take him into custody. James Slesser, who lives on First Street, said the suspect jumped on the officer's back in resisting arrest, dislodged the officer's gun and then reached for it in the street, just as a back-up officer arrived.

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"It was a close call," before he had been interviewed by Long Beach police. He felt the officer had been in peril of his life.

But the police outline of events said it was not yet known if the suspect was intoxicated, and made  no mention of the officer's service revolver, nor the officer's name.

A message from Patch was sent to Branch via his apparent Facebook page late Tuesday, should he wish to comment. If the Facebook profile is the same Branch, he is a Cal State Long Beach student who likes Will Smith, Jimi Hendrix and the cartoon Doug, as well as Hof's Hut and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Said Massacani: "The investigation is ongoing, and anyone who has information about this incident is asked to contact LBPD Violent Crimes Detective Benjamin Vargas at 570-7250. Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com."


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