A 41-year-old mentally ill patient was arrested after he allegedly attacked police officers who were responding to a distress call at an Orange County mental health facility, Garden Grove police said.
A worker at Palm Village Assisted Living on the 13000 block of Clinton Street in Garden Grove called police around 11 p.m. asking for help with an "out of control" schizophrenic patient who was not taking his medication and needed to be transferred to a hospital for treatment. According to the caretaker, the patient became violent and began vandalizing her car.
Two officers responded and tried to calm the patient, who was identified as 41-year-old Nam Hoag Nguyen, police said.
During the struggle, Nguyen allegedly attacked the officers and knocked the male officer to the ground, police said.
Nguyen then allegedly got on top of him and started punching the officer in the head, police said. The female officer tried to use a Taser on him.
The struggle continued until additional officers arrived on scene to restrain him.
Nguyen was arrested and booked in connection with felony assault on a police officer with great bodily injury, police said.
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The male officer was transported to the UCI Medical Center for treatment and has since been released. He suffered a concussion, blurred vision, several bruises and a cut above his left eye.
The female officer, a 20-year veteran, was also taken to a hospital because of a pain in her ribs. She was treated and released. She suffered a broken rib and pain to her left ankle.
Oleevia Woo contributed to this report.
