Crime & Safety
Man Attacks Officer With Stolen Walmart Baseball Bat In San Diego
A man in Southern California faces charges including the attempted an murder of a police officer after he was approached.
EL CAJON, CA — A man in Southern California faces charges including attempted murder after he was accused of swinging a stolen aluminum baseball bat at a police officer's head on Friday, authorities said.
Julian Sebastien Kurko, 26, was approached by Walmart loss prevention employees after they reportedly witnessed him attempting to steal sporting goods. Employees of the El Cajon store called law enforcement around 3:40 p.m. after failing to make contact with Kurko.
"Loss prevention followed the suspect throughout the store, until they lost sight of him," officials from the El Cajon Police Department said in a release.
Find out what's happening in Santeefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
An officer arrived at the Walmart shortly after the call and approached Kurko in the parking lot. Kurko had walked out of the store still armed with the baseball bat and "confronted " the officer.
As Kurko drew closer to the officer, he raised the bat above his head and swung it forcefully at him. The officer was able to deflect the blow from his head by raising his upper arm.
Find out what's happening in Santeefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Kurko was tackled to the ground and violently struggled to escape the officer's grip. After other officers arrived, he was arrested.
"Once other officers arrived on scene, the suspect was handcuffed and placed under arrest, but continued to violently struggle, at which time he was placed into further restraints to protect his safety and the safety of the officers," police wrote in a release.
The first responding officer suffered bruising, swelling and pain to his upper arm but denied transportation to a hospital. Kurko also suffered minor abrasions.
Police records revealed that Kurko had three felony convictions of violent crimes between 2014 and 2019. In two of the crimes, he was convicted of attacking law enforcement officers. In both cases, Kurko was sentenced to one year in state prison but both sentences were stayed and he did not serve time in prison.
Kurko was booked into the San Diego County Central Jail for multiple charges, including robber and attempted murder of a police officer.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
