Colma cop back to work after being injured on Christmas

A Colma police officer is back on duty after he was injured during a struggle with a 27-year-old transient man on Christmas Day.

At around 6:45 p.m., officers were patrolling the 280 Metro Center shopping mall, located at the corner of Colma and Junipero Serra boulevards, according to police.

The officers spotted a man walking around the shopping center.

Officers contacted the man and found him to be in possession of marijuana. He was cited and released from the scene, police said.

About four hours later, officers again spotted the same man at the closed shopping center.

When an officer attempted to contact him, the suspect then charged at the officer and a struggle ensued, according to police.

Additional officers arrived at the scene and they were able to take the suspect into custody, police said.

The suspect has been identified as Jorge Velasquez, according to a police dispatcher.

Officers arrested Velasquez on suspicion of possessing marijuana and assault on an officer, according to the dispatcher.

Police booked Velasquez into the San Mateo County Jail.

The officer suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening. He was taken to a hospital where he was treated and later released.