RivCo Cop Hospitalized; Suspect Detained In Potential Mental-Health Crisis: Report

RIVERSIDE, CA — A police officer in Riverside was injured while responding to reports of a person possibly having a mental health crisis on Wednesday night, according to police and news reports.

An officer was dispatched after 6 p.m. to University and Dwight avenues. Sometime after arriving, the officer was injured and taken to a hospital, Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback told The Press-Enterprise.

It remains unclear how the officer was injured or what their condition was on Thursday. Patch has reached out to Railsback.

Witnesses, who were guests at a hotel across the street, told the newspaper that they saw a man jumping on top of cars on University Avenue. They also said they heard what sounded like a gunshot.

“He started running down the middle (of the street), screaming and yelling and stuff and then about five minutes later we heard a gunshot,” Susan Waller told The Press-Enterprise. “Next thing I know, there was police everywhere.”

The Riverside Police Department issued a warning on Wednesday evening, urging commuters and residents to expect a "significant" price presence in that area for several hours.

University Avenue was closed in all directions between Kansas Avenue and Ottawa Avenue for several hours.

"There is no active threat to the public," police said Wednesday.