Robber Sprays Victim With Bug Spray Before Hurting SSF Cops: PD

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Four officers were injured while taking a man into custody in South San Francisco over the weekend after he allegedly stole a man's cellphone from his vehicle and sprayed him with a can of insect killer when he tried to intervene, police said Tuesday.

Julian Lee, a 30-year-old transient, was arrested after a 58-year-old man found Lee rummaging through his vehicle in the first block of Tanforan Avenue shortly after 9:20 a.m. Sunday, according to police.

"The suspect stole the victim's cellular phone and attempted to flee," police said in a news release. "The victim gave chase and was able to catch up to the suspect. The suspect sprayed a can of insect killer towards the victim's face."

Lee then continued to run and scaled a fence and ran away along the 300 block of South Maple Avenue, police said.

Officers soon found Lee, but he resisted arrest — injuring some police officers in the process, officials said.

"Officers eventually apprehended the suspect who resisted their attempts to handcuff him," police said. "Four Officers sustained minor injuries taking the suspect into custody."

Two of those officers had to be treated at the hospital before being released, police said. Lee was also treated at a hospital for "minor abrasions" before being released and booked into San Mateo County Jail.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report