Officer hit by his own patrol car; man faces attempted murder charge

A 25-year-old man is set to be arraigned Friday in Superior Court on charges of attempting to murder a San Diego police officer in an incident that left the officer hospitalized with serious injuries.

William Frank Bogard will face two counts of attempted murder, one of burglary, one of vehicle theft and one of evading arrest, according to jail records.

Bogard was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of attempting to steal the patrol car of Officer Jeffrey Swett and using the car to run Swett down in an attempt to escape, police said.

Swett, a 25-year veteran of the police department, had responded to a call of a home burglary in progress in the Barrio Logan neighborhood. As he was interviewing a witness, police say, Bogard got into Swett’s Ford Explorer and tried to drive away.

Swett was struck by the car and was sprawled on the hood as Bogard attempted to speed away, according to police. A second officer fired at Bogard, striking him at least once. The vehicle crashed into a light pole.

A statement circulated by Chief Shelley Zimmerman to all officers said Swett’s injuries, although serious, were not life-threatening and that Swett “maintains his keen sense of humor and his spirits are high.”

The incident “was another reminder of just how dangerous our job is.”

The San Diego Police Officers Assn. has begun a fund to aid Swett’s family that can be found at www.sdpoa.org.

Bogard pleaded not guilty Friday and was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail. Also, the prosecutor said that Swett suffered broken wrists, a broken leg, a fractured spine, and significant head injuries.

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