City of Santa Rosa, CA, CivicReady Public Safety Alerts & Notifications

SRPD News Release: Officer Assaulted During Call for Service

5/29/2023 - 2:43 PM

Officer Assaulted During Call for Service

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, at 8:00 pm, an SRPD officer was dispatched to check the welfare of a female behind a building in the 400 block of Sonoma Avenue. A reporting party heard the female yelling and making other noises.

When the uniformed patrol officer arrived on the scene, they contacted an adult female, later identified as Ana Valquiria Taylor, a 37-year-old female who is a transient living in Santa Rosa. Taylor was agitated when the officer was checking to make sure she was okay. The officer offered assistance and resources, but Taylor continued to yell at the officer and told the officer to leave. Taylor threatened to throw urine at the uniformed officer if they did not leave. The officer noticed that Taylor was holding a plastic container full of an unknown liquid.

When the officer confirmed that Taylor was not committing a crime and did not want assistance, the officer began to slowly walk back to their patrol vehicle, but watching Taylor. As the officer was walking, Taylor quickly ran toward the officer and threw the container of urine at them. Taylor also punched the officer several times, striking the officer on the head and upper body. The officer used great restraint and was able to quickly grab Taylor and force her onto the ground.

On the ground, Taylor continued to kick the officer and pull their hair, to further injure the officer. The officer was able to overcome Taylor’s assaultive actions and restrain her. When additional officers arrived on the scene, the primary officer and the backup officers were able to place Taylor in restraints, so she could not assault anyone else.

The officer sustained lacerations to their face and hands, and urine on their uniform, but finished their shift. This officer used compassion during the initial interaction to calm Taylor’s aggressive demeanor and offered services. The officer also used significant restraint and professionalism when being physically attacked by Taylor.

Regularly, officers come across aggressive and violent individuals but use their verbal skills to de-escalate situations. Officers are trained to use force to overcome violent encounters to protect themselves and the public, and the officer in this incident did exactly what she was trained to do. By the end of the incident, the officer received minor injuries, Taylor sustained minor injuries and Taylor was transported/booked into the Sonoma County Jail for felony assault on an officer.

Media inquiries may be directed to Lieutenant Christopher Mahurin at cmahurin@srcity.org. SRPD Case #23-6459