Suspect arrested after Atwater police officer is punched

An Atwater police officer who suffered minor injuries a week ago in an on-duty vehicle collision was assaulted Friday while struggling with a man wanted on several arrest warrants, the Police Department told the Sun-Star.

Officer Jason DaSilva, 29, reported only minor bruises to his head after Friday’s altercation and returned to work immediately, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

The suspect, 20-year-old Matthew Tobias-Edwards, was booked into John Latorraca Correctional Facility on suspicion of assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and at least two warrants – one for domestic violence in Butte County and another for assaulting a peace officer in an unrelated case, the Police Department reported.

Officers responded at 7:02 p.m. Friday to the 1600 block of East Bellevue Road to break up a fight. Tobias-Edwards was questioned at the scene and, Joseph said, tried to run after officers learned he was wanted in Butte County.

Tobias-Edwards tripped and fell and then punched DaSilva in the face while being taken into custody, Joseph said.

He remained in custody Sunday with bail set at more than $32,000, according to booking records.

Tobias-Edwards pleaded no contest Nov. 26 to misdemeanor charges of drug possession and giving false information to a peace officer. He was sentenced to three years of probation.

He also has a pending felony case on an accusation that he brought contraband into the Butte County jail, according to Butte County Superior Court records.

DaSilva on Dec. 27 suffered minor injuries, briefly losing consciousness, after a vehicle turned in front of his police cruiser on Atwater Boulevard, the California Highway Patrol reported previously.

DaSilva was responding to a routine call for backup when his vehicle collided with the other car. Two children and the female driver complained of pain but declined medical treatment. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, the CHP said.

The collision was under investigation, but Atwater police officials have said it does not appear DaSilva did anything that would warrant an internal review. DaSilva returned to duty a few days later.

This story was originally published January 4, 2015 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Suspect arrested after Atwater police officer is punched."