Man accused of injuring El Cajon officer arrested

EL CAJON

A man who was wanted for injuring an El Cajon police officer in December was arrested by Los Angeles police officers, authorities said Sunday.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart division announced the arrest of David Pangilinan, who had a felony warrant and was wanted on suspicion of injuring El Cajon police Officer Nick Cirello, authorities said.

Cirello was seriously injured on Dec. 14 when he was dragged down an El Cajon street by a rental SUV driven by a f leeing motorist, then was struck by another vehicle.

“We are elated to announce that thanks to LAPD Rampart, David Pangilinan, the suspect who injured Officer Cirello, has been arrested,” the LAPD tweeted Sunday. “Rampart Narcotics Enforcement Detail arrested Pangilinan and recovered a loaded gun and a large amount of drugs & money. Great job & THANK YOU.”

The events that led to the vehicular assault on Cirello began when officers responded to a report of a Volkswagen SUV blocking the roadway on West Washington Avenue. Inside the illegally parked vehicle were a sleeping man and woman, police said.

When officers woke the occupants, the driver provided identification for someone other than himself. As officers began to investigate further, the driver started the vehicle and put it into gear.

While trying to detain the driver, Cirello was trapped partially inside the SUV and was pulled down the street until another moving vehicle hit him, sending him tumbling onto the roadway as the f leeing motorist sped away.

Police later found the Volkswagen abandoned a short distance from where the officer was injured.