SANTA ANA, Calif. – A father and his son are scheduled to be arraigned today for assaulting an on-duty Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) officer by knocking him to the ground and repeatedly hitting and kicking him. Darryl Headrick, 58, and Bryce Headrick, 23, both of Huntington Beach, are each charged with one felony count of aggravated assault on a peace officer, one misdemeanor count of resisting and obstructing another officer, and a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury. If convicted, both defendants each face a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison and six months in jail. The People will request they be held on $100,000 bail at their arraignment today in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 11:20 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2016, Bryce Headrick is accused of riding a bicycle near Beach Boulevard and Clay Avenue in Huntington Beach. A HBPD officer conducted a stop on Bryce Headrick for a traffic violation. As the officer was talking to Bryce Headrick, his father, Darryl Headrick, is accused of approaching the officer from behind and assaulting the officer. Both defendants are accused of punching the officer, knocking him to the ground, and continuing to punch and kick the officer in the head and body. At some point during the assault, the officer lost consciousness. Both defendants then fled the scene on their bicycles.

HBPD officers located Darryl Headrick near the crime scene and arrested him. Bryce Headrick was located and arrested several hours later near his home. The officer was transported to University of California, Irvine Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries, including a concussion. HBPD investigated this case.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Robert Mestman of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 16WF0313 / February 16, 2016