Off-duty LAPD officer arrested in stabbing of fellow bar patron

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer was arrested Wednesday in San Bernardino County on suspicion of following a fellow bar patron into a bathroom and stabbing the man, according to sources in the Los Angeles Police Department.

Arthur Contreras, 55, was arrested about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday by Upland police at a home in the San Bernardino County city. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Contreras was released from jail after posting $40,000 bail and has an initial appearance at Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court set for Friday morning.

It was unclear whether he had an attorney.

In a Facebook post, Upland police officials said the victim was treated at the scene for a minor laceration.

An LAPD personnel roster shows that Contreras is an officer with the Detective Support and Vice Division and joined the force in 1995.

Specifics about the incident weren’t immediately known, but a department source with knowledge of the case said the alleged attack occurred around lunchtime Wednesday at an unnamed bar. Contreras is suspected of following the bar patron into a bathroom, where the off-duty officer allegedly tried to stab the man in the chest but instead cut the man’s arm, according to the source.

Capt. Kelly Muniz, a LAPD spokesperson, said Thursday that Contreras has been put on administrative leave, but referred further questions to the Upland Police Department.

The San Bernardino County district attorney’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning.