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A man and woman accused of seriously injuring an El Cajon police officer, who was dragged about 200 yards down a roadway while clinging to an SUV, were ordered Thursday to stand trial on charges that include assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
David Francis Cepeda Pangilinan, 41, and Keani Flores, 28, are accused of trying to flee from police on Dec. 14, dragging Officer Nick Cirello down West Washington Avenue in the process.
Deputy District Attorney Clayton Carr said the SUV was traveling around 70 mph when Cirello, who had grabbed onto the open window, fell from the vehicle. The officer sustained injuries that included major head trauma, a brain bleed and broken bones.
UpdatedThu, Apr 22, 2021 at 5:44 pm PT
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EL CAJON (KUSI) – A man who allegedly injured an El Cajon police officer, who was dragged about 200 yards down a roadway while clinging to an SUV, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to assault with a deadly weapon and identity theft charges.
David Pangilinan, 41, is accused of dragging Officer Nick Cirello down West Washington Avenue on the morning of Dec. 14, then fleeing the county. He was at large for nearly a month until being arrested at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division.
Cirello, who was also allegedly punched repeatedly by Pangilinan and 28-year-old co-defendant Keani Flores, suffered injuries that include major head trauma, a brain bleed and broken bones, according to Deputy District Attorney Mei Owen. The officer was hospitalized, but is now back home and is expected to fully recover from his injuries, according to the El Cajon Police Department.
EL CAJON
A man accused of dragging an El Cajon police officer, who clung to the man’s car before he was thrown in the street and badly injured, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to assault with a deadly weapon.
David Francis Cepeda Pangilinian, 41, is also accused of handing over a stolen identification card to officers after they roused him and his sleeping companion in a car parked along a city street last month.
Pangilinian who at the time of the encounter was on probation out of Los Angeles County for ID theft faces up to seven years, eight months in prison if he is convicted. The officer suffered broken bones and a brain hemorrhage.