On Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at approximately 1:39 AM, the Palm Springs Police Department received a call of a vehicle theft in the 2500 block of North Starr Road. At approximately 1:50 AM, a Palm Springs Police Officer and his assigned police K-9 partner, were patrolling the area of the vehicle theft.   The officer saw a subject, later identified as Suspect-William Rodriguez, walking in the roadway near the intersection of North Via Miraleste and East Racquet Club Road.. The officer stopped his patrol car behind Rodriguez in an attempt to speak to Rodriguez about the vehicle theft and why he was walking in the roadway. The officer attempted to broadcast the location and circumstances of the investigative stop via his police radio but was unable to do so. Before the officer could exit his vehicle or broadcast the stop, Rodriguez ran towards the police car and punched the officer in the head through the opened driver’s side window area. The officer attempted to exit the driver’s door but Rodriguez slammed the door shut from the outside and punched the officer again in the head through the opened driver’s side window area. Rodriguez then verbally threatened to kill the officer. The officer was able to slide across the center console and exit the front passenger side door as Rodriguez ran around the front of the car towards the passenger side. Rodriguez failed to obey any police commands and the officer’s police K-9 partner was deployed from the police car. The police K-9 apprehended Rodriguez immediately outside of the police car and Rodriguez violently resisted both the officer and the police K-9. Rodriguez attempted to fight off the police K-9 and refused to obey any commands given by the officer. Additional officers arrived on scene to assist in the apprehension and Rodriguez was detained in handcuffs after a violent struggle. Rodriguez was transported to a local hospital and was treated for injuries sustained during the arrest. He was treated, released, and was later transported to the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. The officer was treated and released from a local hospital and has since returned to duty. The police K-9 was not injured during the altercation. Rodriguez’ involvement in the vehicle theft is not known and the vehicle was not located.

     Rodriguez was arrested for violations of 69 P.C., Resisting an Executive Officer By Force, 148 (a)(1) P.C., Resisting Arrest, 243 (c)(1) P.C., Battery on a Police Officer, 422 P.C., Criminal Threats, and 600 (a) P.C., Harming a Peace Officer Dog.

Suspect Information:

William Rodriguez, 31 years old.

Last known City of Residence, Phelan, California.