Man arrested after assaulting officer in Monument, police say

MONUMENT, Colo. – A Monument man was arrested after reportedly assaulting a police officer on Wednesday afternoon in El Paso County.

It all started when Monument police, in conjunction with the Colorado State Patrol, searched for a vehicle that had failed to stop for a Trooper who tried to pull it over for minor traffic violations.

The car was eventually found in front a home in the 17000 block of Gypsum Canyon Court in Monument.

After digging up his criminal history, authorities found out the driver, Tyler Andrew Gonzalez, 22, had two warrants out for his arrest.

Gonzalez, confronted by the officers, refused to come out from his home. His sister arrived a short time later and that’s when an officer saw an opportunity to enter the home, but was attacked by Gonzalez who was hiding behind the front door. He was reportedly wearing a tactical style vest and holding a handgun.

“Gonzalez threatened to kill the Officer and a struggle ensued,” according to a Monument Police Department spokesperson.

Gonzales then reportedly struck the Officer in the head with the handgun several times and during the struggle, the front door came open and the Officer fell out of the door, striking his head on the concrete.

A SWAT team was called, along with other agencies to assist with the situation, and negotiators were able to talk Gonzalez out of the home. He was taken into custody without further incident.

The Monument Police Officer who was injured was taken to a hospital for treatment and was released after some time.

Once investigators canvassed the scene, they found the handgun that Gonzalez had was actually an Airsoft weapon, which shoots plastic pellets via air explosion, according to the department spokesperson.

Gonzalez was booked into the Criminal Justice Center on the two warrants and was also charged with first-degree assault, menacing, obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and harassment.