A Cal Poly alumnus was arrested for allegedly attempting to hit a police officer with his vehicle during spring break, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD).
Twenty-four-year-old Brian Lima of King City was arrested the evening of St. Patrick’s Day after he allegedly drove his car toward a bicycle officer, SLOPD lieutenant Keith Storton said.
Two officers noticed Lima spinning his tires at the intersection of Dana and Nipomo streets and approached him, Storton said. Lima then drove down Dana Street before turning around and backing toward the officers, Storton said.
“He actually veered his vehicle toward one of the officers where the officer had to get out of the way,” Storton said.
The officers put out an alert with Lima’s vehicle’s description, and he was later arrested and booked at San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, refusal to obey a peace officer, reckless driving and driving under the influence. The first charge is a felony which, if Lima is found guilty, could mean prison time, Storton said.
But members of Lima’s family say he was falsely accused. Lima was not trying to hit an officer, but trying to avoid the officer who was standing in the street, a family member who wished to remain anonymous said.
Blood tests were taken after Lima’s arrest to determine whether he was under the influence, and the family and police are still waiting for results, the source said.
The pre-preliminary hearing to Lima’s trial is Wednesday.
“Hopefully, it won’t be anything negative, and I hope everything will stay positive,” the source said.