Fremont police have made an arrest in a violent assault of one of their officers.
Investigators flew to Los Angeles Tuesday and arrested Alexander Diaz early Wednesday morning. Diaz is the man suspected of running down a motorcycle cop Monday afternoon in a stolen van.
Witnesses say he aimed for Officer Patrick Brower and then dragged the officer before crashing the stolen van he was driving into a light poll.
As Brower lay injured and trapped under the van, witnesses said Diaz ran away from the scene.
Diaz is a parolee out of Southern California, and following tips police discovered that he had traveled there. A taxi driver called to say that he had dropped someone who fit Diaz's description at a bus terminal.
They made the arrest in Los Angeles at 5 a.m. Wednesday after they set up a surveillance at a home there. Fremont police say Diaz should be extradited to Alameda County where he will face serious charges including attempted murder of a police officer.
Brower, 43, is a ten year veteran of the police force. He is married with three sons. He underwent extensive reconstructive surgery to his leg and foot. Surgeons inserted a rod into his leg to stabilize his bones. Brower is expected to be released from the hospital later this week and should make a full recovery.
