Man in Orange charged with assaulting police officer with Crock-Pot lid

SANTA ANA — A 35-year-old man was charged Tuesday with attacking a police officer in Orange.

Khleoum Tong was charged with assault with a weapon on a police officer and resisting arrest, both felonies. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of assault on a peace officer and a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of methamphetamine.

Tong also faces sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury on at least one of the officers, according to court records.

Police responded just after 2 p.m. Saturday to a “panic button” alarm from a car, and when the officers arrived the suspect was “acting irate,” said Sgt. Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department.

Tong appeared to be under the influence of drugs, and at some point he “grabbed a lid from a Crock-Pot and threw it at an officer and struck him on the chin,” McMullin said.

The officer needed three stitches and was able to return to duty this week, McMullin said.

Police had to use a Taser to take the suspect into custody, McMullin said.

Six officers were involved in the attempt to arrest Tong, according to court records.

Tong pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana on Tuesday and was ordered to return to court for a pretrial hearing Dec. 11, according to court records.