SFO Attack: Man Choked Officer With Bike Helmet Strap, DA Says

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — A Pittsburg transient was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for an attack that injured two police officers at San Francisco International Airport in 2015, San Mateo County prosecutors said.

Jason Johnson, 42, was walking with some food in the food court at the airport's international terminal at 2:35 a.m. on May 6, 2015, when a police officer stopped him to talk to him. Johnson was disheveled, smelled and appeared to be in the food court without any purpose, officials said.

Prosecutors said Johnson had been arrested for trespassing in the past. Johnson reached into his pocket even though an officer told him not to and officers removed his hand.

According to prosecutors, Johnson then became enraged and attacked two officers. A struggle ensued and Johnson choked one officer nearly unconscious with the officer's bike helmet strap.

Prosecutors said officers eventually subdued Johnson but not before one officer suffered torn ligaments and another suffered a back injury.

Johnson spent about a year in the Napa State Hospital until he was ruled competent to stand trial. His attorney Randy Hey could not immediately be reached for comment.

— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock