DA charges suspect with with felony assault on Oakland police officer

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Alameda County District Attorney has filed felony charges against a man accused of  attacking an Oakland police officer over the weekend. 

"If we are asking the police to protect us, then we must also protect them when they are the victim of an unprovoked assault," DA Ursula Jones Dickson said Tuesday "Today, we have filed felony assault charges that reflect the outrageous nature and seriousness of the case."

 Lawrence Holley, 48, was charged with assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. He was also charged with resisting a police officer and causing injury.

"The goal is for everybody to be safe, including police officers," Jones Dickson said. 

The assault

What we know:

The attack occurred on Friday afternoon, at International Boulevard and 104th Avenue. 

The two officers were sitting in their patrol car with the windows down, waiting at a red light, when Holley allegedly approached the vehicle and began punching the officer in the passenger seat.

The officers were able to take the perpetrator into custody. The injured officer, who has not been identified, was hospitalized following the incident.

Sam Singer, spokesperson for the Oakland Police Officers Association, said  the officer is recovering at home and supported by his family and friends. 

"We just can't have this if we're going to survive in Oakland with that level of violence against officers and citizens," Singer said. "Crime is out of control." 

Holley was reportedly on felony probation at the time of the assault. 

The complaint alleges he has six prior felony convictions, including a "strike" for robbery. 

Holley is being held in the Santa Rita Jail. He's scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse.