A Redondo Beach Police Officer was attacked with a knife at the South Bay Galleria on Wednesday while attempting to escort a homeless woman off of mall property.
Sgt. Edward Jackson responded to a call placed by Galleria security around 12:45 p.m., according to RBPD Lt. Fabien Saucedo. A woman was reportedly causing a disturbance in a store. Jackson arrived to assist the security and informed the woman, later identified as 21- year-old Alexis West, that she needed to leave and that if she returned she would be charged with trespassing.
While the officer escorted her down the mall’s escalator, West produced a folding knife and swung at Jackson multiple times, scratching him in the neck, according to police reports.
Jackson was initially unaware of the knife, figuring that West was only trying to punch him. He blocked the swings and pushed West to the ground to subdue her, held her arm down and then saw the knife in her hand. While Jackson and Galleria security kept West pinned down, a backup officer arrived to assist in securing the weapon, handcuffing and arresting West.
“We don’t know if it was the back of the knife, or if her swing was too erratic and came up short, but Jackson was scratched on his neck and initially didn’t realize it was a knife,” Saucedo said. The cut is said to have been superficial and did not require medical treatment.
Police say that West gave an Inglewood address when asked, but listed herself as homeless. She was arrested for attempted murder on a police officer. As of this writing, charges have not yet been filed by the District Attorney’s office.
