Manhunt On For Transient Who Injured Rancho Palos Verdes Cop

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA -- Police this week were seeking a 53-year-old man who injured a sergeant sent to investigate reports of someone looking into homes in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The suspect was identified as Chris Gerrald Matson, "a transient known to frequent Rancho Palos Verdes," police said.

Officers responded about 8:45 a.m. Thursday to investigate the suspicious person report, police said.

"The suspect was located on a trail adjacent to the 2200 block of Via Cerritos," according to a police department statement. "The suspect refused to obey verbal orders and fled on foot. The suspect started jumping over a chain link fence at which point a sergeant was able to grasp his body."

Matson told the sergeant, "I'm not going back to jail," then forcefully escaped the sergeant's grasp, police said.

"The sergeant sustained an injury as a result of this incident and the suspect was not apprehended," police said.

Matson is white, 6 feet tall, about 210 pounds and was wearing a blue plaid shirt, tan shorts and white shoes when last seen.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts was urged to call police at (310) 378-4211.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the RPVPD