LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Two off-duty Los Angeles police officers were placed on leave after their arrest for allegedly pistol-whipping a man during an altercation, authorities said.
Brandon James Valdez, 29, and Patrick Anthony Fitzgerald, 38, were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Both officers had allegedly been drinking when Valdez began arguing with his girlfriend outside a restaurant in the suburb of Whittier at about 8 p.m., the Pasadena (Calif.) Star-News reported Wednesday.
A man standing nearby talking on his cellphone turned his attention to the squabble, whereupon Valdez punched him in the face, pulled out his handgun and began hitting him in the head, witnesses said.
Fitzgerald allegedly came out of the restaurant, wrestled the victim to the ground and continued the assault. The victim finally escaped and ran into a nearby Target store, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The man sustained blunt force trauma to the head. He was transported to a hospital where he was treated and released.
LAPD officials said Valdez and Fitzgerald have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
